^■;f'i^^i  ■:* 


"S^<-^.. 


>  jEle'l.;";*  if  *  JO  ■j.w-or^"  -«>  ■ 


I  am  a  berltdge  because  I 
brlnci  yov  years  oj  tboupbt 
and  xbe  lore  of  time  ^-^ 
I  impart  yet  I  can  pot  speaks 
I  have  ti^veled  amon^  tbe 
peoples  o^  tbe  eartb  --=^  I 
aw  3  rower -^  Oft-tlrpeo 
1  strc^  jron?  tbe/iresLde. 
of  tbe  ore  who  love5  and 
cberlsbeo  n9e--ajbo 
n9LDDeD  roe  ujber)  I  an? 
^ope-^5bould  you  fwd 
me  va^rapt  please  send 
me.  boroe  -  ^movfi  my 
brothers-- on  tbe  book-, 
sbelves  of 

Altolp  Santhl 


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ir^tininiGinirrinirininicininininicicininininiGOGininioinininin'^ 


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Stack 

Annex 

V.I 


^'^TIN 


iCAL  APPRtQATIONS   BY   AN 


.d  3^^ — 


>I3MOH 
".3jai  yxDon  'aoiHD  ^o  quab  qjo  awua  3hT" 


ff^- 


HOMER 

From  a  bust  in  the  museum  at  Naples 

"The  blind  old  bard  of  Chios'  rocky  isle." 


— Page  6. 


mm 


GKEEH^IATIN 


THE  CLASSICS 

GREEK      AND       LATIN 


CONTRIBUTING  CLASSIC  COUNCIL 

J.    P.    MAHAFFY.    D.C.L.,    Trinity    College,    Dublin 
SIR  ALEXANDER  GRANT,  LL.D.,  Edinburgh 
EDWARD  POSTE,  M.A.,  Oxford  University 
J.  H.  FREESE,  M.A.,  Cambridge  University 
BASIL  L.  GILDERSLEEVE,  LL.D., 

Professor    of    Greek,   Johns    Hopkins    University 

JOHN  HENRY  WRIGHT,  LL.D., 

Professor    of    Greek,    Harvard    University 

HENRY  P.  WRIGHT,  PH.D., 

Professor  of   Latin,   Yale  University 
HARRY  THURSTON  PECK,  L.H.D., 

Professor  of  Latin,  Columbia  University 

SAMUEL  ROSS  WINANS,  PH.D., 

Professor  of  Greek,  Princeton  University 

CHARLES  E.   BENNETT,  LITT.D., 

Professor  of  Latin,  Cornell  University 

WILLIAM  A.  LAMBERTON,  LITT.D., 

Professor  of  Greek,  University  of  Pennsylvania 

JOHN  DAMEN  MAGUIRE,  PH.D., 

Professor  of  Latin,  Catholic  University  of  America 

PAUL   SHOREY,   PH.D., 

Professor  of  Greek,  University  of  Chicago 

MARTIN  LUTHER  D'OOGE,  PH.D., 

Professor  of   Greek,   University   of  Michigan 
ANDREW  J.  BELL,  M.A., 

Professor   of   Latin,   University  of  Toronto 
WILLIAM   AUGUSTUS   MERRILL,   L.H.D., 

Professor   of   Latin,  University  of   California 
MARY  LEAL  HARKNESS,  M.A., 

Professor  of  Latin,  Tulane  University 


MARION    MILLS   MILLER,    LITT,    D,    (Princeton) 
Editor-in-Chief 


VINCENT  PARKE  AND 
COMPANY,  NEW  YORK 


^yj^^\^y/^o\^y/oK 


^ 


Copyright,  1909,  by 

Vincent  Parke  and  Company, 

New  York 


PREFACE 

I  HE  survey  of  any  national  literature,  especially 
that  of  ancient  peoples,  can  be  original  only  in 
the  choice  of  representative  works  and  ver- 
i"Kl  KtKI  sions,  in  minor  judgments  of  the  editor,  and  in 
^m  ^»  order  of  presentation  of  the  subject.  If  there 
sShH^bm  is  any  common  property  in  ideas,  it  certainly 
inheres  in  classical  learning,  the  greatest  inheritance  of  the 
ages.  The  authors  of  the  various  histories  of  the  Greek  and 
Latin  literatures  and  the  editors  of  classical  dictionaries  have 
all  been  forced  by  the  incalculable  sum  of  their  indebtedness  to 
forego  all  but  the  most  general  acknowledgments  of  sources 
of  facts  and  opinions.  Thus  Prof.  J.  P.  Mahaffy,  the  most 
conscientious  of  scholars,  in  the  preface  to  his  History  of 
Classical  Greek  Literature  says:  "I  have  borrowed  freely 
from  everybody,  and  explicit  acknowledgments  would  have 
largely  increased  the  bulk  of  my  book  without  ever  being  com- 
plete. For  the  source  of  suggestion  has  often  escaped  me, 
and  I  may  have  assumed  as  my  own  what  has  been  uncon- 
sciously borrowed  from  others."  Then,  too,  a  license  for  the 
conversion  of  any  of  the  ancient  classics  and  unattached  lit- 
erary property  pertaining  thereto  may  surely  be  permitted  an 
editor,  when  it  is  recalled  that  Homer,  the  first  and  greatest  of 
classical  authors,  freely  adapted  to  his  needs  the  legendary 
ballads  of  his  time.     As  Kipling  writes: 

When  'Omer  smote  'is  bloomin'  lyre 
He'd  'eard  men  sing  by  land  an'  sea; 

An'  what  he  thought  'e  might  require 
'E  went  an'  took — the  same  as  me ! 

Accordingly  the  editor  of  the  present  work  begs  to  make 
no  acknowledgment  of  sources  of  any  kind,  beyond  giving 
the  names  of  translators  of  the  various  works  selected  as  best 
representing  the  genius  of  the  classic  authors.     In  so  doing 


vl  PREFACE 

he  believes  that  he  is  conferring  a  favor  on  the  reader  by  in- 
creasing space  for  the  immortal  words  of  these  authors,  and 
by  not  distracting  his  attention  from  them.  Like  considera- 
tions have  also  caused  the  author  to  remove  all  notes  from  the 
texts  of  the  translations  save  those  which  are  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  interpret  the  meaning  of  the  original;  and,  wherever 
advisable,  these  notes  have  been  inserted  within  brackets  in 
the  text  in  order  to  "economize  the  reader's  attention,"  as 
Herbert  Spencer  has  phrased  what  he  declared  to  be  the  fun- 
damental principle  of  writing. 

The  order  in  which  the  classics  are  here  presented  is  the 
chronological,  varied  by  the  logical.  Thus  the  works  ascribed 
to  Homer  are  given  first  as  the  earliest  Greek  writings,  and 
these  are  followed  by  short  critical  biographies  of  all  other 
Greek  writers  in  the  epic  style,  whatever  their  period,  together 
with  their  representative  works  where  these  are  extant  and 
available  in  English  translations.  Then  the  lyric  writers  cen- 
tering about  Sappho,  the  first  and  greatest  of  "poets  of  pas- 
sion," with  all  their  successors,  are  presented.  Philosophy 
then  follows,  the  wisdom  of  Socrates  as  set  forth  in  Plato  and 
others  of  his  disciples  forming  the  beginning  and  base  of  the 
series,  its  crown  being  reached  in  the  works  of  Aristotle,  the 
most  influential  man  of  the  ages,  not  only  in  philosophy  but 
in  science. 

Drama,  which  became  an  art  later  than  oratory,  though  it 
reached  its  climax  earlier,  is  represented  by  the  plays  of 
Aeschylus,  the  first  and  most  sublime  of  Greek  Dramatists, 
followed  by  those  of  his  younger  contemporaries  and  rivals, 
Sophocles  and  Euripides,  and  the  plays  of  Aristophanes,  the 
first  and  greatest  writer  of  comedies  the  world  has  yet 
produced. 

Herodotus,  "the  father  of  history,"  and  Thucydides,  the 
first  author  to  apply  strictly  scientific  canons  of  evidence  to 
historical  writing,  are  next  introduced  in  typical  works,  and 
they  are  succeeded  by  notices  of  historians  of  all  the  following 
ages  down  to  the  Christian  era.  This  same  glorious  "Age  of 
Pericles"  which  produced  the  great  dramatists,  historians 
and  philosophers  of  Greece,  was  even  more  preeminently 
the  golden    age    of    oratory,    the    form    of  literature  next 


PREFACE 


VII 


taken  up  in  the  present  work,  Thucydides  has  recorded  in  his 
own  words  the  orations  of  Pericles,  who  is  described  as  "thun- 
dering and  Hghtening  when  he  spoke,  thus  bearing  the  weapons 
of  Zeus  upon  his  tongue,"  and  therefore  it  is  with  the  ora- 
tions of  Isocrates  that  we  begin,  a  man  who  was  a  great  orator 
himself  and  the  greatest  teacher  of  oratory  that  ever  lived, 
three  of  the  ten  most  famous  orators  of  Greece  being  his  pu- 
pils. It  was,  however,  the  pupil  of  Isaeus,  a  rival  teacher,  that 
became  the  greatest  of  the  ten — Demosthenes,  the  patriot  who 
opposed  his  eloquence  against  the  bribes  of  Philip  of  Macedon 
— though  all  in  vain,  for  money  was  victoriously  ^ocal  even 
then  as  now.  The  greatest  oration  of  Demosthenes,  that  On 
the  Crown,  is  presented  in  the  series  following  the  accusation 
against  him  made  by  Aeschines,  his  rival. 

Late  in  the  history  of  Greece,  a  new  form  of  literature 
developed  akin  to  the  early  epic — the  novel,  or  romance.  It  is 
with  representative  works  in  this  most  interesting,  but  little 
known  form,  that  the  present  selection  of  Greek  books  is 
brought  to  a  close. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  translations  reproduced  in  the 
present  work  are  by  various  writers,  the  same  proper  names 
are  spelled  in  various  ways,  as  Homer,  Homerus,  and  Ho- 
MEROS,  and  a  name  is  written  now  in  the  Latin  and  now  in  the 
Greek  fashion,  as  ^schylus  and  Aischulos.  So  also  the 
same  gods  are  represented  sometimes  by  the  Latin  and  some- 
times by  the  Greek  name  as  Jupiter=Zeus,  Juno=:Hera. 
The  editor  assumes  that  the  readers  of  this  work  will  have  a 
general  knowledge  of  these  -variations  and  equivalents,  and 
either  wit  enough  to  surmise  those  with  which  they  are  not 
already  familiar,  or  diligence  enough  to  discover  them  by  con- 
sulting a  classical  dictionary,  or  the  lexicon  of  proper  names 
in  the  back  of  every  large  English  dictionary.  Accordingly 
he  refrains  from  giving  the  present  work  the  forbidding  aspect 
of  a  tabulated  book  of  reference  by  inserting  here  the  long  list 
of  Greek  and  Latin  names  in  their  various  spellings  and  with 
their  equivalents  in  each  other's  language.  A  similar  consid- 
eration leads  him  to  omit  indications  of  pronunciation  of 
proper  names  in  the  text  of  the  work ;  these  indications  will  be 


vin 


PREFACE 


found  in  the  General  Index  of  the  series  at  the  end  of  the  last 
volume.  It  will  suffice  to  give  here  a  few  general  rules  of 
pronunciation  of  classic  names: 

1.  With  a  few  exceptions,  English  transliterations  of  Greek 
and  Latin  proper  names  are  phonetic,  that  is,  pronounced  as 
spelled.  These  exceptions  are:  ch  is  pronounced  like  k;  y 
(which  represents  the  Greek  u,  except  in  diphthongs)  is  pro- 
nounced like  i;  ;r  as  an  initial  is  pronounced  hke  s;  e  and  o 
may  be  long  or  short, — that  is,  conventionally  long  or  short,  not 
strictly  so  phonetically;  thus  Hera  is  pronounced  hee-rah, 
and  Eros,  air-oss,  and  Oceanus,  oh-se-an-us,  and  Odys- 
sey, ODD-ISS-SY. 

2.  Each  vowel  and  each  diphthong  (two  vowels  pro- 
nounced as  one — generally  as  the  second  of  the  two  alone — and 
sometimes  joined  together  as  ce  and  oe,  and  sometimes  not,  as 
ae  and  oe)  forms  a  syllable,  either  by  itself  or  in  combination 
with  adjoining  consonants.  Thus  Lyde  is  pronounced  Ly-de, 
(Enone,  E-n6-ne. 

3.  The  accent  in  names  of  four  or  more  syllables  is  gen- 
erally on  the  third  from  and  including  the  last  in  names  of 
Latin  origin  or  in  Greek  names  pronounced  in  the  Latin 
fashion.    Thus  Andromache  is  pronounced  An-drom-a-che. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Preface      V 

Introductions  : 

Greek  Poetry  Before  Homer  ......        5 

The  Homeric  Question  ......       12 

By  J.  P.  Mahaffy,  D.C.L.,  Trinity  College,  Dublin 

The  Greek  View  of  Homer I^ 

On  Translating  Homer  .         .         .         .        ,         .         -19 

By  Andrew  Lang 
Introduction  to  the  Iliad 23 

By  the  Rev.  W.  Lucas  Collins,  M.A. 

The  Iliad  of  Homer 31 

Done  into  English  Prose  by  Andrew  Lang,  M. A.,  Oxford ; 
Walter  Leaf,  Litt.D.,  Cambridge;  Ernest  Myers,  M.A., 
Oxford 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Homer         ,       ,        , Frontispiece 

From  a  bust  in  the  museum  at  Naples. 

Paris  and  Helen 246 

From  a  painting  by  Jacques  Louis  David 

Homer  Begging 342 

FrtMn  a  painting  by  Jules  J.  A.  Lecomte-Du-Nouy 


INTRODUCTIONS 


GREEK  POETRY  BEFORE  HOMER 

Although  it  is  a  favorite  demonstration  of  the  philoso- 
phers to  show  that  the  antagonism  between  poetry  and  science, 
like  that  between  religion  and  science,  has  no  real  or  intrinsic 
basis,  it  nevertheless  reveals  itself  on  every  possible  occasion 
as  a  most  vigorous  actuality.  Poetry,  which  Bacon  acutely 
defined  as  "the  mixture  of  a  lie  which  doth  ever  add  pleasure," 
cherishes  deviation  from  the  fact,  the  world  of  the  real,  when- 
ever this  aberration  enforces  a  higher  truth  of  the  spirit,  the 
world  of  the  ideal.  The  imagination,  or  the  poetic  element 
in  man,  constantly  tends  to  convert  appearances  into  reali- 
ties, forms  into  substances,  mythology  into  history,  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  to  reverse  these  conversions  through  the 
process  of  symbolization.  In  short,  poetry  hates  the  literal, 
which  is  the  peculiar  domain  of  science,  and,  as  science  is  con- 
stantly annexing  to  this  domain  territory  that  has  heretofore 
been  a  sacred  inheritance  of  poetry,  conflict  results.  As  a 
matter  of  obvious  fact  every  battle  results  in  favor  of  science, 
yet  in  the  poetic,  or,  if  you  please,  Pickwickian  sense,  poetry 
is  always  the  victor,  for  she  calmly  ignores  the  conquest,  and, 
like  the  Jameses  and  Charleses,  the  kings  of  "Great  Britain, 
France  and  Ireland,"  goes  on  bequeathing  the  lost  lands  to 
coming  generations.  Accordingly  the  reader  of  the  present 
day  must  constantly  bear  in  mind  the  double  allegiance  of 
every  point  of  learning,  to  history  or  science  on  the  one  hand, 
to  literature  or  symbolization  on  the  other.  He  must  know 
that  George  Washington  did  not  cut  down  the  cherry  tree 
in  American  history,  but  that  he  did  do  so  in  moral  litera- 
ture, or,  what  is  the  essence  of  the  story,  that  if  George  had 
cut  down  the  tree  he  would  not  have  lied  about  it.  The 
reader  must  know  the  scientific  fact  that  the  earth  revolves 
on  its  axis,  and  at  the  same  time  he  must  accept  without 

5 


6  INTRODUCTION 

cavil  the  poet's  figure  of  Phoebus  driving  his  chariot  over 
the  arch  of  the  empyrean,  based  though  this  is  on  an  out- 
worn conception  of  the  universe.  Otherwise  his  will  be  only 
a  half  portion  of  the  common  inheritance  of  the  ages.  In 
the  present  age,  when  the  "scientific  spirit"  is  rendering 
even  our  handbooks  of  information  regarding  the  literature 
of  imagination,  such  as  mythology  and  folk-lore,  almost  value- 
less for  reference  where  explanation  of  allusions  by  poets, 
orators,  essayists  and  old-time  historians  and  scientists  is 
sought,  there  is  especial  need  that  the  facts  of  the  ideal  world, 
the  cosmos  of  art  and  literature,  yes,  of  religion,  too,  shall 
be  conserved.  When  the  "higher  critics"  of  the  Bible  shall 
have  settled  their  disputes  about  Abraham  and  Moses  and 
Solomon,  and  come  to  an  agreement,  such  as,  for  example, 
either  that  Solomon  was  nothing  more  than  a  personification 
of  wisdom,  or,  if  a  real  person,  a  weak  puppet  of  a  design- 
ing queen-mother,  then  we  may  expect  our  Biblical  literature 
to  be  revised  out  of  all  practical  usefulness  also,  leaving  the 
reader  of  the  future  (to  continue  our  example)  dazed  as 
well  as  amazed  by  the  thousand  references  in  Oriental  as 
well  as  Occidental  literature  to  the  wisdom  and  glory  of  the 
son  of  David.  Fortunately  Moslem  conservatism  and  poetic 
feeling  will  undoubtedly  have  preserved  an  old-time  biography 
of  the  magnificent  and  miraculously  wise  monarch  to  which 
the  puzzled  reader  may  turn — if  he  understands  Arabic. 

If  this  hypothetical  case  of  Solomon  is  smiled  at  as 
extreme,  let  the  doubter  contemplate  the  position  which  Homer 
and  the  Greek  authors  before  him  already  occupy  in  the 
world  of  letters  to-day.  Secure  up  to  the  days  of  modern 
scholarship  as  a  definite  personality  in  literature,  the  "blind 
old  bard  of  Chios*  rocky  isle"  has  been  pounced  on  by  the 
scientific  critics,  who  have  robbed  him  of  every  shred  of 
individuality,  proving  that  he  was  everything  from  a  sun- 
myth  to  a  syndicate  except  the  man  and  poet  that  creative 
literature  always  has  considered,  and  always  will  consider 
that  he  was.  And  already  the  editors  of  text -books  of  Homer 
have  replaced  the  former  biographical  introductions  with  his- 
torical ones  that  omit  data  which  are  of  the  highest  impor- 
tance as  assumed  facts  in  the  history  of  creative,  effective 


GREEK    POETRY    BEFORE    HOMER  7 

literature,  though  denied  by  the  Hteral,  critical  historians. 
Better  it  were  by  far  that,  in  accordance  with  ancient  prac- 
tise, the  Life  of  Homer  attributed  to  Herodotus,  so  obviously 
apocryphal  and  hence  harmless  to  the  student's  scientific  sense, 
should  be  inserted  in  text-book  introductions,  than  that  mem- 
bers of  the  coming  generation  either  should  be  ignorant  of  what 
Milton  meant  when  he  wrote  of  "blind  Melesigenes,  thence 
Homer  called"  or,  in  the  light  of  superior  knowledge  of  the 
etymology  of  the  name,  should  convict  the  learned  English 
poet  of  an  original  blunder  in  scholarship. 

Even  in  regard  to  the  clearly  mythical  poets  before  Homer, 
it  tends  to  conserve  the  humanistic  side  of  culture  to  follow 
the  practise  of  the  average  Greek  and  regard  them  as  defi- 
nite personalities,  relegating  to  science  the  discussion  of  the 
probable  sources  of  Hellenic  poetry  in  the  Aryan  fatherland, 
and  its  development  in  connection  with  the  social  institu- 
tions and  religious  belief  of  the  early  tribes. 

Therefore,  we  shall  here  adopt  the  view  which  not  even 
the  most  skeptical  Greek  ever  doubted,  that  Hellenic  poetry 
was  autochthonous,  that  is,  sprung  from  the  soil,  originating 
in  Greece  itself;  and  we  shall,  with  all  the  Greeks,  but  her 
sceptics,  ascribe  to  definite  personalities  the  invention  of  defi- 
nite poetic  forms  which  have  come  down  to  later  genera- 
tions as  among  the  most  highly  prized  institutions  of  their 
national  life. 

The  first  poetry  of  the  Greeks  was  lyric,  consisting  of 
dirges  sung  at  funerals,  and  choral  songs  sung  at  marriages, 
vintage  festivals,  religious  performances,  and  other  assem- 
blies of  the  people.  It  was  generally  conceded  that  the  dirge 
was  the  oldest  form,  and  its  invention  was  ascribed  to  Linus. 

Linus  was  described  as  a  son  of  Apollo  by  a  mortal 
woman,  and  Argos  and  Thebes  contended  for  the  honor  of 
his  birth.  According  to  the  Argives,  the  mother  placed  the 
child,  born  out  of  wedlock,  with  shepherds,  who  brought  him 
up  to  young  manhood,  when  he  was  torn  to  pieces  by  dogs. 
The  mother's  grief  at  the  tragedy  betrayed  her  early  lapse 
from  chastity  to  her  father,  who  condemned  her  to  death. 
Apollo  thereupon  sent  a  plague  upon  Argos,  which  the  inhab- 


8  INTRODUCTION 

itants  strove  to  avert  by  propitiating  the  god  with  sacrifices 
and  dirges,  which  were  called  lini.  According  to  the  Theban 
tradition  Linus  was  killed  by  his  divine  father  because  he  had 
presumptuously  ventured  upon  a  musical  contest  with  him. 
The  Thebans  also  had  a  tradition  of  a  later  Linus,  the  in- 
structor of  Hercules  in  music,  who,  angering  his  pupil,  was 
killed  by  a  blow  of  the  powerful  hero.  The  Linus  song,  or 
dirge,  is  mentioned  by  Homer.  It  was  akin  to  the  Adonis  song 
of  the  Phoenicians,  and  the  Maneros,  or  lament,  of  the 
Egyptians.  It  was  developed  by  the  later  Greeks  into  a 
form  of  exquisite  beauty  (see  Bion's  Lament  for  Adonis  in 
volume  three  of  the  present  work),  which  in  turn  has  become 
the  model  of  the  beautiful  threnodies  of  the  English  poets,  such 
as  the  Lycidas  of  Milton  and  the  Adonais  of  Shelley. 

After  Linus  came  Olen,  of  Lycia,  who  established  the 
worship  of  Apollo  at  Delphi,  and  composed  in  his  honor  the 
first  Greek  hymns.  He  is  said  to  have  written  the  first  hexa- 
meter verse,  although  this  invention  is  also  accredited  to 
Phemonce,  the  first  priestess  of  Delphi.  After  Olen  came 
Pamphos^  the  oldest  hymn-singer  of  the  Athenians. 

With  Linus  were  associated  also  Ialemus  and  Hymen- 
^us  or  Hymen,  personifications  respectively  of  a  certain 
kind  of  melancholy  song  and  the  marriage  hymn.  Of  Ialemus 
there  is  little  tradition. 

Hymen,  however,  was  raised  to  an  important  place  in  the 
Greek  pantheon,  being  described  as  a  son  of  Apollo  and  one 
of  the  Muses.  By  a  pretty  conceit  he  is  represented  as 
vanishing  on  his  own  wedding  day,  and  therefore  constantly 
sought  for  at  every  wedding.  Another  tradition  makes  him 
the  son  of  Dionysus  and  Aphrodite,  who  lost  his  voice  and 
life  singing  at  the  marriage  of  his  father  and  Ariadne.  A 
more  human  story  is  told  by  the  Athenians,  who  describe  him 
as  a  youth  who,  disguised  as  a  girl,  followed  to  the  secret 
feast  of  women  at  the  shrine  of  Demeter  at  Eleusis  a  young 
maiden  whom  he  loved  against  the  will  of  her  parents. 
Together  with  some  of  the  maidens  he  was  carried  away  by 
pirates,  whom  he  afterward  killed  in  their  sleep.  Thus  he  was 
enshrined  in  legend  as  the  champion  of  women, — a  beautiful 
and  apt  figure  of  the  protection  afforded  the  sex  by  marriage. 


GREEK   POETRY   BEFORE   HOMER  9 

The  marriage-song  in  its  early  form,  as  mentioned  by 
Homer,  was  sung  by  young  men  and  maidens  to  the  sound 
of  flutes,  during  the  festal  procession  of  the  bride  from  the 
house  of  her  parents  to  her  new  home.  In  the  main  it  was 
serious  in  tone,  but  with  humorous  allusions,  tending  to  coarse- 
ness, a  characteristic  which  it  transmitted  to  its  develop- 
ment and  modern  literary  representative,  the  epithalamium, 
although  veiled  and  refined  from  the  frankness  of  the  early 
form.     (See  the  Epithalamium  of  Edmund  Spenser.) 

Of  the  classic  epithalamia  surviving  examples  are  by  the 
Romans:  Statius,  Ausonius,  Claudianus,  Paulinus  of  Nola, 
Sidonius  Apollinaris,  Dracontius,  Ennodius,  Luxorius,  Venan- 
tius  Fortunatus  and  Catullus ;  Catullus's  splendid  epithalamium 
on  the  marriage  of  Peleus  and  Thetis  stands  as  the  model  of 
the  form  for  all  literature. 

Orpheus  and  Mus^us  were  yoked  together  in  the  classic 
mind  as  originators  of  religious  poetry.  They  were  referred 
to  as  real  persons  by  such  writers  as  Plato  and  Aristotle, 
although,  as  in  the  case  of  Linus  and  Hymen,  place  was 
found  them  in  mythology.  For  Orpheus  in  his  mythological 
character  the  reader  may  go  to  Bulfinch's  Age  of  Fable. 
Suffice  it  to  say  here  that  he  was  said  to  be  the  son  of  the 
Muse  Calliope  and  a  king  of  Thrace,  the  country  being 
significant  of  the  northern  origin  of  Greek  religious  poetry. 
A  legend  that  he  visited  Egypt  gives  color  on  the  other 
hand  to  Herodotus'  statement  that  "the  rites  which  are  called 
Bacchic  and  Orphic  .  .  .  are  in  reality  Egyptian  and 
Pythagorean."  So,  too,  there  is  historical  significance  in  the 
account  of  his  end.  The  Thracian  women,  in  the  frenzy  of 
their  Bacchanalian  orgies,  tore  him  to  death,  and  the  Muses 
collected  the  fragments  and  buried  them  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Olympus,  all  save  his  head,  which  was  thrown  into  the  river 
Hebrus,  and  borne  to  the  sea,  drifting  across  to  Lesbos,  where 
it  was  interred  at  Antissa.  His  lyre  also  was  carried  to  Les- 
bos. This  is  a  poetic  expression  of  the  fact  that  Lesbos  was 
the  first  great  seat  of  lyrical  music,  Antissa  being  in  par- 
ticular noted  as  the  birthplace  of  Terpander  (700  to  650 
B.C.),  who  established  the  first  school  of  music  in  Greece, 
and  added  three  strings  to  the  lyre.    In  later  times  a  mystical 


10  INTRODUCTION 

religious  order  arose  in  Greece  called  the  Orphici,  who, 
under  cover  of  following  Orpheus,  really  gave  them- 
selves up  to  the  worship  of  Dionysus,  not,  however,  in  such 
orgies  as  that  by  which  Orpheus  met  his  death,  but  in  ascetic 
practices  and  solemn  incantations.  At  first  a  band  of  occult 
philosophers,  holding  to  the  doctrine  of  metempsychosis,  or 
the  transmigration  of  souls,  they  degenerated  into  mere  jug- 
glers, and  finally  were  snuffed  out  amid  general  contempt 
early  in  the  Christian  era. 

Through  this  cult  many  poems  ascribed  to  Orpheus  were 
kept  current  until  the  time  of  Plato,  although  these  were 
probably  forged  by  Onomacritus,  whom  Pisistratus,  the 
"tyrant"  of  Athens  (b.c.  520)  employed  with  others  to  edit 
the  poems  of  Homer  and  other  ancient  literary  remains. 
Onomacritus  was  caught  forging  an  oracle  of  Musaeus  and 
banished  from  Athens  by  the  sons  of  Pisistratus,  his  suc- 
cessors to  the  throne.  Subsequently,  as  Herodotus  relates, 
Onomacritus  made  peace  with  them,  and  in  their  interest  in- 
duced Xerxes  by  false  oracles  to  war  upon  Greece. 

Aristotle  as  well  as  Herodotus  attacked  the  genuineness 
of  this  Orphic  literature,  but  it  continued  to  increase  in  vol- 
ume through  the  forgeries  of  Alexandrian  scholars,  and  its 
antiquity  was  accepted  even  by  such  late  writers  as  the  Chris- 
tian Fathers.  Among  the  so-called  Orphic  works  which  are 
in  existence  may  be  mentioned  the  Argonautica,  an  epic  poem 
by  Apollonius  of  Rhodes,  which  will  be  discussed  in  the  next 
volume, with  a  translation  of  one  of  its  episodes;  eighty-eight 
hymns,  evidently  written  by  Neo-Platonic  philosophers;  a 
work  called  Lithica  treating  of  the  occult  properties  of  stones 
both  common  and  precious;  and  fragments  of  the  Theogony, 
some  of  which  are  similar  to  those  of  Hesiod's  work  of  that 
title,  and  are  therefore  regarded  as  genuinely  of  the  same 
era.  Of  these  fragments  Pausanias  in  the  second  century  a.d. 
wrote  a  high  encomium :  "Whoever  has  made  a  critical  study 
of  poetry  knows  that  the  hymns  of  Orpheus  are  each  com- 
posed in  the  briefest  form,  and  are  altogether  very  few  in 
number.  The  Lycomidae  [an  Attic  clan]  know  them  and 
sing  them  in  accompaniment  to  the  ceremonies  [of  the 
Eleusinian  mysteries].     In  elegance  they  would  rank  second 


GREEK   POETRY   BEFORE   HOMER  11 

after  the  hymns  of  Homer,  at  any  rate,  but  they  are  more 
highly  honored  than  these  on  account  of  their  reHgious  spirit." 

A  similar  clan  to  the  Lycomidae  was  that  of  the  Eumol- 
pidae,  an  Athenian  priestly  family,  which  derived  its  descent 
from  EuMOLPUS,  a  mythical  Thracian  warrior  and  bard,  and 
which  furnished  the  hierophants,  or  conductors,  of  the  Eleu- 
sinian  ceremonies. 

Mus^us  was  supposed  to  have  been  a  pupil  of  Orpheus, 
and  the  songs  ascribed  to  him  are  of  the  order  of  his  teacher's. 
As  has  been  stated,  Onomacritus  forged  several  works  in  his 
name.  Musaeus  was  believed  to  be  a  real  person,  and  his  tomb 
was  shown  at  Athens  as  late  as  the  time  of  Pausanias.  He 
must  not  be  confounded  with  the  Musseus  who  wrote  the 
poetic  romance  of  Hero  and  Leander,  and  who  lived  in  the 
sixth  century  a.d. 

As  indicated  by  the  name  of  this  singer,  the  early  mythi- 
cal or  semi-mythical  poets  of  Greece  were  closely  associated 
with  the  worship  of  the  Muses — goddesses  at  first  only  three 
in  number,  and  with  very  different  names  from  any  of  the 
nine  of  later  mythology.  At  Delphi  they  were  known  as 
Hypate  [First],  Mese  [Middle],  and  Nete  [Last],  from  the 
three  original  strings  of  the  lyre,  and  at  Helicon,  Mneme 
[Memory],  Melete  [Attention],  and  Aoide  [Song].  The 
name  Muse  is  connected  by  Bergk,  the  German  scholar,  who 
collected  the  fragments  of  early  Greek  lyrics,  with  the  Lydian 
word  for  water,  mou.  This  etymology  has  been  denied.  At 
any  rate,  the  Muses  were  always  associated  with  water  springs, 
at  certain  of  which,  especially  Hippocrene  on  Mount  Heli- 
con, near  the  Gulf  of  Corinth,  were  seats  of  their  worship. 
They  were  held  to  be  the  patrons  of  music  and  poetry,  which 
arts  were  at  first  always  combined  and  considered  insepar- 
able, and  which  are  charmingly  symbolized  by  the  singing 
and  babbling  of  fountains  and  streams. 

Other  poets  whose  names  are  associated  with  the  Muses 
are  Thamyris,  a  Thracian  bard,  whom  Homer  mentions 
as  blinded  and  deprived  of  his  skill  by  these  goddesses  for 
boasting  that  he  could  conquer  them  in  a  contest  of  song, 
and  who  is  therefore  represented  in  sculpture  dejectedly  hold- 
ing a  broken  lyre.     He  is  said  to  have  been  the  third  victor 


12  INTRODUCTION 

in  the  singing  contests  at  Delphi,  the  second  having  been  his 
father,  Philammon,  whose  special  instrument  was  the  cithara, 
and  who  established  the  chorus  of  girls,  singing  hymns  to 
Latona  and  her  children  Apollo  and  Artemis,  and  Chry- 
soTHEMis  OF  Crete  having  been  the  first.  Orpheus  and 
Musaeus  did  not  contend  in  these  contests,  being  hors  con- 
coiirs  because  of  their  acknowledged  preeminence. 

All  this  legendary  and  mythological  lore  points  to  the 
Lydian  (Ionian)  origin  of  Greek  poetry,  and  its  progress 
through  Thrace  southward  to  the  Corinthian  Gulf,  where  it 
established  its  seat  at  Delphi.  Here  the  short  Lydian  meas- 
ures suited  to  the  dance  and  the  expression  of  sudden  emotion 
were  developed  into  the  long  majestic  hexameter  adapted  to 
the  solemn  ritual  of  religious  worship  and  sustained  narra- 
tive. In  the  new  measure  the  priests  composed  genealogies 
of  the  gods,  called  theogonies,  for  the  instruction  of  the  peo- 
ple. Then,  inspired  by  their  achievement,  the  bards,  or  wan- 
dering minstrels  of  the  day,  gradually  abandoned  the  episodi- 
cal song  in  lyric  measure,  in  which  they  celebrated  the  exploits 
of  national  heroes,  for  continuous  narratives  in  hexameters. 
In  this  fashion  the  Epic  came  into  existence. 


THE   HOMERIC  QUESTION 

BY  J.  P.  MAHAFFY,  D.C.L. 
Fellow  and  Professor  of  Ancient  History,  Trinity  College,  Dublin 

[As  already  reinarked,  space  will  not  be  devoted  in  this  work  to 
presenting  the  controversy  about  the  authorship  of  the  Homeric 
poems  which  has  been  raging  among  the  Greek  scholars  since  1795, 
when  Friedrich  August  Wolf,  a  German  scholar,  propounded  the 
theory  that  the  Iliad  was  made  up  of  a  number  of  ballads  and  songs, 
the  work  of  bards  or  "rhapsodists"  which  were  handed  down  from 
generation  to  generation,  until  they  were  finally  united  by  the  poet 
Onomacritus  at  the  order  of  Pisistratus  of  Athens,  about  520  B.C. 
It  will  suffice  here  to  give  the  summary  in  which  Professor  J.  P. 
Mahaffy  presents  the  general  results  of  the  controversy.] 


THE   HOMERIC   QUESTION  13 

We  may  assume  it  as  certain  that  there  existed  in  Ionia 
schools  or  fraternities  of  epic  rhapsodists  who  composed  and 
recited  heroic  lays  at  feasts,  and  often  had  friendly  contests 
in  these  recitations.  The  origin  of  these  recitations  may  be 
sought  in  northern  Greece,  from  which  the  fashion  migrated 
in  early  days  to  Asia  Minor.  We  may  assume  that  these 
singers  became  popular  in  many  parts  of  Greece,  and  that  they 
wandered  from  court  to  court  glorifying  the  heroic  ancestors 
of  the  various  chiefs.  One  among  them,  called  Homer,  was 
endowed  with  a  genius  superior  to  the  rest,  and  struck  out 
a  plot  capable  of  nobler  and  larger  treatment.  It  is  likely 
that  this  superiority  was  not  recognized  at  the  time,  and  that 
he  remained  all  his  life  a  singer  like  the  rest,  a  wandering 
minstrel,  possibly  poor  and  blind.  The  listening  public  gradu- 
ally stamped  his  poem  with  their  approval,  they  demanded  its 
frequent  recitation,  and  so  this  Homer  began  to  attain  a  great 
posthumous  fame.  But  when  this  fame  led  people  to  inquire 
into  his  life  and  history,  it  had  already  passed  out  of  recollec- 
tion, and  men  supplied  by  fables  what  they  had  forgotten  or 
neglected.  The  rhapsodists,  however,  then  turned  their  atten- 
tion to  expanding  and  perfecting  his  poem,  which  was  greatly 
enlarged  and  called  the  Iliad.  In  doing  this  they  had  re- 
course to  the  art  of  writing,  which  seems  to  have  been  in  use 
when  Homer  framed  his  poem,  but  which  was  certainly 
employed  when  the  plan  was  enlarged  with  episodes.  The 
home  of  the  original  Homer  seems  to  have  been  about  Smyrna, 
and  in  contact  with  both  yEolic  and  Ionic  legends.  His  date 
is  quite  uncertain;  it  need  not  be  placed  before  800  B.C.,  and 
is  perhaps  later,  but  not  after  700  B.C. 

When  the  greatness  of  the  Iliad  had  been  already  discov- 
ered, another  rhapsodist  of  genius  conceived  the  idea  of  con- 
structing a  similar  but  contrasted  epic  from  the  stories  about 
Odysseus  and  Telemachus,  and  so  our  Odyssey  came  into  ex- 
istence— a  more  carefully  planned  story,  but  not  so  fresh  and 
original  as  the  older  Iliad.  Both  poets  lived  at  the  time  when 
the  individual  had  not  asserted  himself  superior  to  the  clan 
or  brotherhood  of  bards  to  which  he  belonged,  and  hence 
their  personality  is  lost  behind  the  general  features  of  the 
school,  and  the  legendary  character  of  their  subjects.     An  age 


14  INTRODUCTION 

of  rapid  and  original  production  is  not  unlikely  to  produce  this 
result.  Thus  Shakespeare,  among  a  crowd  of  playwrights  and 
without  any  prestige,  did  not  become  famous  till  the  details 
of  his  life  were  well-nigh  forgotten.  The  controversies  con- 
cerning his  plays  have  many  points  of  analogy  to  the  disputes 
about  Homer, 

When  the  name  of  Homer  became  famous,  all  epic  compo- 
sitions pretended  to  be  his  work,  and  he  gradually  became  the 
hero  eponymos  of  the  schools  of  rhapsodists.  Hence  the  first 
critics  began  by  disallowing  the  Homeric  origin  of  various 
inferior  and  later  compositions.  This  process  had  in  later 
classical  times  gone  so  far  as  to  reject  all  but  the  Iliad  and 
Odyssey.  With  an  attempt  to  reject  even  the  Odyssey,  an- 
cient scepticism  paused.  No  Greek  critic  ever  thought  of  deny- 
ing that  each-  poem  was  the  conception  and  work  of  a  single 
mind,  and  of  a  mind  endowed  with  exceptional  genius.  The 
attempt  of  the  Wolfian  school  to  prove  them  mere  conglom- 
erates has  failed.  They  have  proved  that  there  was  extensive 
interpolation,  but  all  attempts  to  disengage  the  original  nu- 
cleus have  failed. 


THE  GREEK  VIEW  OF  HOMER 

With  the  support,  therefore,  of  Professor  Mahaffy's  sane 
and  conservative  scholarship  we  may  assume  that  Homer  is 
a  definite  personality  in  literature.  The  Greeks  to  whom  the 
Iliad  and  Odyssey  stood  in  the  same  relation  as  the  Bible 
does  to  us,  as  supreme  authority  in  theology,  with  the  added 
function  of  serving  as  the  history  of  their  race,  never  doubted 
the  historical  existence  of  the  poet.  Eight  of  their  biogra- 
phies of  him  have  come  down  to  us,  one  ascribed  to  Plutarch, 
and  one  to  Herodotus.  The  latter  (which  will  be  found  in 
the  second  volume  of  the  present  work)  is  plainly  not  the 
composition  of  the  imputed  author,  but  a  work  of  much  later 
date.  On  its  face  it  is  not  a  true  biography,  but  a  clever  set- 
ting of  the  fragmentary  hymns  and  sayings  (the  so-called 
Jests)  ascribed  to  Homer  in  a  chronological  and  continuous 


THE   GREEK   VIEW   OF   HOMER  15 

narrative  which  gives  a  plausible  account  of  the  circumstances 
under  which  the  fragments  were  uttered,  and  so  serves  as  a 
conjectural  commentary  upon  them.  It  must  not,  however, 
be  condemned  as  worthless  for  this  reason.  On  the  contrary 
it  is  of  great  value  as  expressive  of  a  universal  human  tend- 
ency to  supply  by  fiction  the  evident  need  of  a  story  when  the 
true  story  is  lacking.  Even  in  our  own  generation  stories 
have  been  made  up  to  give  circumstances  under  which  Wash- 
ington and  Lincoln  uttered  some  of  their  famous  sayings,  and 
these  have  been  popularly  accepted  as  true  anecdotes.  Since 
the  essence  of  truth,  the  authentic  saying,  remains,  and  this 
is  impressed  upon  the  memory  by  the  fiction  surrounding  it, 
a  service  is  rendered  the  world  by  the  fabrication.  Napoleon 
once  defined  history  as  "a  lie  agreed  upon,"  and  this  fitly  de- 
fines popular  historical  belief  in  all  ages,  especially  the  classic. 
Not  only  the  pseudo-history  of  Herodotus's  Life  of  Homer, 
but  also  its  pseudo-scholarship,  its  false  etymologies,  etc., 
found  their  way  through  quotation  and  allusion  into  Greek 
literature  in  general,  thus  rendering  a  knowledge  of  their 
source  of  more  practical  importance  to  the  modern  reader  than 
even  the  exact  truth  would  be  if  it  were  now  ascertainable. 

In  addition  to  those  given  in  the  life  of  Homer  by  Herodo- 
tus, the  following  biographical  data  of  the  poet  current  among 
the  Greeks  are  of  interest.  By  genealogical  trees  he  was 
shown  related  to  Hesiod  by  a  common  descent  from  Orpheus. 
Seven  cities — Smyrna,  Rhodes,  Colophon,  Salamis,  Chios, 
Argos,  and  Athens — claimed  him  as  a  native  son — as  the  well- 
known  epigram  runs: 

Seven  wealthy  towns  contend  for  Homer  dead. 
Through  which  the  living  Homer  begged  his  bread. 

By  the  majority  of  critics,  modern  as  well  as  ancient, 
Smyrna  is  agreed  to  have  the  best  right  to  the  claim,  and 
the  inhabitants  proudly  showed  a  grotto  near  that  city  where 
they  said  he  composed  his  immortal  poems.  Strong  support 
was  given  to  the  claim  of  the  island  of  Chios  by  the  line  in 
the  Homeric  hymn  to  Apollo:  "[He  is]  of  us,  a  blind  man, 
and  he  dwells  at  rocky  Chios,  whose  songs  shall  all  hereafter 
excel." 


16  INTRODUCTION 

Aristarchus,  the  critic,  thought  him  an  Athenian,  because 
of  certain  Attic  expressions  in  his  poems.  The  loving  famiH- 
arity  of  the  author  of  the  Odyssey  with  Ithaca  caused  others 
to  think  him  a  native  of  that  country.  Greek  mystics  who 
desired  to  trace  a  connection  of  the  Greeks  with  the  ancient 
home  of  the  occult  asserted  that  he  was  an  Egyptian.  Aris- 
todemus  of  Nyassa  believed  him  to  be  a  Roman  because  of 
certain  customs  he  described  which  were  similar  to  those  of  the 
Latins.  And,  to  cap  the  climax  of  the  strange  conjecture,  an 
Englishman,  by  a  method  (akin  to  the  Baconian  cipher)  in 
which  he  reversed  the  letters  of  the  name  Omeros,  proved  the 
poet's  identity  with  Soremo,  or  Solomon,  the  mystical  wise 
man  of  the  Orient.  This  may  have  given  the  suggestion  to  the 
late  Edward  Everett  Hale  for  his  charming  fiction  of  a  meeting 
between  the  wandering  Greek  bard  and  David,  the  shepherd 
boy  of  Bethlehem,  in  which  they  recite  their  songs  to  each 
other — the  one,  praises  of  Greek  gods  and  heroes;  the  other, 
psalms  of  adoration  to  Jehovah. 

Both  ancient  and  modern  scholars  have  accepted  the  name 
Homer  as  a  cognomen,  meaning  variously  the  Blind,  the 
Uniter,  or  the  Union,  the  last  being  a  conjecture  of  Georg 
Curtius,  the  German  scholar,  who  accepted  the  theory  that  the 
Iliad  and  the  Odyssey  were  the  works  of  a  guild  or  fellow- 
ship of  poets. 

The  date  of  Homer's  birth  was  variously  assigned  by  the 
ancients  from  shortly  after  the  Trojan  War  {b.c,  1193  to 
1 184),  to  B.C.  850,  the  date  given  by  Herodotus,  who  probably 
desired  to  place  it  as  late  as  possible  in  order  to  permit  oppor- 
tunity for  his  hobby  that  Greek  literature  and  civilization  were 
drawn  from  Egypt.  Herodotus's  view  was  sustained  by  the 
Christian  Fathers  with  a  similar  bias,  they  wishing  to  show 
that  the  wisdom  of  the  Greeks  came  from  the  Hebrews.  As 
has  been  mentioned.  Professor  Mahafify,  representing  modern 
unprejudiced  scholarship,  would  place  Homer  in  an  even  later 
period — any  time  in  the  eighth  century  before  Christ. 

Homer  was  preeminently  "the  poet"  {ho  poietes — the 
maker)  to  the  Greeks.  He  endowed  the  race  with  her  gods 
and  heroes  by  giving  them  definite  personalities.  Otherwise 
the  deities  would  have  been  but  vague  impersonations  of  natural 


THE   GREEK   VIEW   OF   HOMER  17 

forces  and  human  passions,  and  the  legendary  chieftains  mere 
names  and  shadows  of  men.  This  was  fully  recognized  by  the 
Greeks.  Herodotus  declared  that  Homer  and  Hesiod  estab- 
lished Hellenic  theogony,  distributing  to  the  gods  their  epi- 
thets, arts,  and  honors.  Pindar  said  that  Odysseus  had  more 
fame  than  he  deserved  because  of  the  sweet-voiced  Homer, 
Homer's  works  were  considered  by  all,  save  a  few  skeptics, 
as  the  final  indisputable  authority  on  religion  and  history,  and 
even  in  contemporary  matters,  such  as  questions  of  pedigree, 
precedence  and  land  titles,  they  were  looked  to  for  guidance. 
They  formed  the  chief  school-books  of  the  Greek  youth.  In 
the  Symposium  of  Xenophon,  Niceratus  says  that  his  father, 
the  Athenian  general  Nicias,  desiring  to  make  a  good  man  of 
him,  compelled  him  to  commit  to  memory  all  of  the  Iliad  and 
the  Odyssey.  They  were  studied  not  alone  for  moral  guid- 
ance, but  also  for  practical  instruction.  Aristophanes  rep- 
resents ^schylus  as  saying:  "From  what  has  divine  Homer 
received  his  fame  except  from  his  most  excellent  instructions 
in  regard  to  tactics,  brave  deeds,  and  the  arming  of  men?" 
That  ^schylus's  opinion  was  a  common  one  is  shown  by  the 
refutation  by  Plato  (who  was  chief  of  the  writers  bold  enough 
to  criticize  Homer)  of  the  view  that  the  ancient  poet  had 
special  wisdom  in  regard  to  "wars,  generalships,  adminis- 
tration of  cities,  and  the  education  of  men."  And  the  Romans 
accepted  the  general  opinion  of  the  Greeks  in  this  matter,  as 
is  indicated  by  the  words  of  Horace:  "I  have  been  re-reading 
the  writer  of  the  Trojan  war,  who  has  taught  what  is  noble 
and  what  is  base,  what  is  profitable  and  what  is  not,  more 
fully  and  better  than  Chrysippus  and  Grantor  [representatives 
respectively  of  the  Stoic  and  Academic  philosophies]."  It 
was  inevitable  that  the  high-minded  philosophers  of  Greece 
would  attack  the  preeminently  human  poet.  The  first  skeptic 
was  Pythagoras,  who  is  said  to  have  seen  the  poet  in  Hades, 
suffering  torments  for  his  statements  about  the  gods.  Xeno- 
phanes  (born  B.C.  556),  a  pure  philosophical  theist,  blamed 
Homer  and  Hesiod  for  attributing  to  the  gods  all  the  actions 
that  are  considered  shameful  when  committed  by  men.  Then 
Plato  in  his  Republic  derided  the  evil  effect  of  Homer  upon 
the  morals  of  youth,  by  causing  the  gods  to  become  degraded 


18  INTRODUCTION 

in  their  eyes,  by  teaching  insubordination  to  those  in  authority 
in  the  example  of  Achilles's  insolence  toward  Agamemnon, 
by  inspiring  sensuality  through  depicting  feasts  of  the  heroes, 
etc.  Accordingly,  though  with  pain  because  of  his  love  for 
their  poetry,  he  excluded  the  Iliad  and  the  Odyssey  from  his 
ideal  State.  In  the  time  of  Philip  of  Macedon,  a  rhetorician 
of  Amphipolis,  Zoilus  by  name,  assailed  the  ancient  poet  so 
harshly  that  he  received  the  cognomen  of  Homer's  Scourge, 
and  his  name  became  the  synonym  of  a  captious  and  malignant 
critic. 

Homer  was  the  foundation  of  the  science  of  grammatical 
and  literary  criticism,  which  first  arose  among  the  Greeks. 
Antimachus  of  Colophon,  himself  an  epic  poet,  edited  the 
founder  of  his  art.  Aristotle  prepared  an  edition  of  the  epics 
expressly  for  Alexander  the  Great,  and  his  distinguished  pupil 
carried  it  with  him  on  his  military  expeditions  in  a  richly 
begemmed  casket  that  had  been  found  in  the  tent  of  Darius  as 
an  inspiration  to  warlike  deeds  and  statesmanship,  and  a  gen- 
eral guide  to  the  conduct  of  life.  The  collation  of  Homeric 
manuscripts  was  begun  at  Alexandria  in  Egypt,  under  the  in- 
spiration of  Callimachus,  in  connection  with  the  great  li- 
brary. Here  the  wealthy  Ptolemies,  Greek  in  spirit  as  in  blood, 
gathered  together  all  the  ancient  writings,  and  brought  hither 
as  their  editors,  the  best  brains  of  the  Greek  world,  with  the 
laudable  purpose  of  uniting  in  the  common  bond  of  learning 
and  civilization  the  diverse  races  of  their  domain. 

In  the  time  of  Ptolemy  Philadelphus  (b.c.  285-247)  the 
library  contained  400,000  volumes  (rolls),  equal  to  40,000 
modern  octavo  volumes.  The  Homeric  manuscripts,  secured 
from  various  cities  that  had  preserved  them  as  official  copies, 
were  the  gem  of  the  collection,  forming  the  center  of  the 
studies  of  the  Alexandrian  scholars.  The  first  careful  editor 
and  reviser  of  the  text  was  Zenodotus,  the  librarian  of  Ptol- 
emy Philadelphus  (b.c  308).  He  published  the  results  of 
his  investigations  in  a  Glossary  of  the  meaning  and  use  of 
Greek  words,  including  also  a  dictionary  of  barbarous  or  for- 
eign phrases.  He  is  thought  to  have  been  the  first  to  divide 
the  Iliad  and  Odyssey  each  into  twenty-four  books,  indicated 
by  the  letters  of  the  Greek  alphabet,  a  great  help  to  bibliog- 


ON   TRANSLATING   HOMER  19 

raphy  and  literary  reference.  His  successor  Aristophanes 
OF  Byzantium,  introduced  the  marks  of  accent  and  quantity 
which  are  still  in  use.  Finally  Aristarchus  of  Samothrace^ 
the  greatest  of  the  editors,  went  into  the  question  of  authen- 
ticity of  the  various  lines  and  passages  of  the  poems,  employ- 
ing in  this  investigation  a  marvellously  full  and  exact  knowl- 
edge of  the  Greek  language  in  its  dialectic  variations.  He 
marked  the  additions  to  the  genuine  text  and  corruptions  of 
it  with  marginal  explanatory  notes.  His  successors  followed 
his  methods,  which,  indeed,  are  those  of  the  modern  critical 
scholar.  The  various  copies  or  "editions"  of  Homer  were 
greatly  prized  by  the  possessors.  Authoritative  editions  were 
preserved  by  seven  "cities,"  or  local  governments:  Massalia 
(now  Marseilles;  in  ancient  times  a  wealthy  patron  of  learn- 
ing), Sinope,  Chios,  Cyprus,  Argos,  Crete  and  Lesbos.  They 
were  said  to  be  the  first  copies  of  the  recension  of  the  poems 
made  by  Onomacritus  and  his  fellow  editors  at  the  orders  of 
Pisistratus,  and  distributed  over  the  Greek  world  for  the 
preservation  of  the  text. 

Among  the  thousands  of  volumes  burned  at  Constantinople, 
477  A.D.,  is  said  to  have  been  a  Homer  written  in  gold  on  the 
great  gut  of  a  dragon,  120  feet  long.  It  was  a  classic  medical 
superstition  that  if  the  fourth  book  of  the  Iliad  was  laid  under 
the  head  of  a  patient  suffering  from  quartan  ague,  it  would 
cure  him  at  once.  Even  so  distinguished  a  physician  as  Sere- 
nus  Sammonicus,  preceptor  of  the  Emperor  Gordian,  seriously 
advised  this. 


ON  TRANSLATING  HOMER 

BY  ANDREW  LANG 

There  can  be  then,  it  appears,  no  final  English  transla- 
tion of  Homer.  In  each  there  must  be,  in  addition  to  what 
is  Greek  and  eternal,  the  element  of  what  is  modern,  per- 
sonal, and  fleeting.  Thus  we  trust  that  there  may  be  room 
for  "the  pale  and  far-oflf  shadow  of  a  prose  translation,"  of 
which  the  aim  is  limited  and  humble.     A  prose  translation 


20  INTRODUCTION 

cannot  give  the  movement  and  the  fire  of  a  successful  trans- 
lation in  verse;  it  only  gathers,  as  it  were,  the  crumbs  which 
fall  from  the  richer  table,  only  tells  the  story,  without  the 
song.  Yet  to  a  prose  translation  is  permitted,  perhaps,  that 
close  adherence  to  the  archaisms  of  the  epic,  which  in  verse 
become  mere  oddities.  The  double  epithets,  the  recurring 
epithets  of  Homer,  if  rendered  into  verse,  delay  and  puzzle  the 
reader,  as  the  Greek  does  not  delay  nor  puzzle  him.  In  prose 
he  may  endure  them,  or  even  care  to  study  them  as  the  sur- 
vivals of  a  stage  of  taste,  which  is  found  in  its  prime  in  the 
sagas.  These  double  and  recurring  epithets  of  Homer  are 
a  softer  form  of  the  quaint  Northern  periphrases,  which  make 
the  sea  the  "swan's  bath,"  gold,  the  "dragon's  hoard,"  men,  the 
"ring-givers,"  and  so  on.  We  do  not  know  whether  it  is  neces- 
sary to  defend  our  choice  of  a  somewhat  antiquated  prose. 
Homer  has  no  ideas  which  cannot  be  expressed  in  words 
that  are  "old  and  plain,"  and  to  words  that  are  old  and  plain, 
and,  as  a  rule,  to  such  terms  as,  being  used  by  the  Trans- 
lators of  the  Bible,  are  still  not  unfamiliar,  we  have  tried  to 
restrict  ourselves.  It  may  be  objected,  that  the  employment 
of  language  which  does  not  come  spontaneously  to  the  lips, 
is  an  affectation  out  of  place  in  a  version  of  the  Odyssey.  To 
this  we  may  answer  that  the  Greek  Epic  dialect,  like  the 
English  of  our  Bible,  was  a  thing  of  slow  growth  and  com- 
posite nature,  that  it  was  never  a  spoken  language,  nor, 
except  for  certain  poetical  purposes,  a  written  language.  Thus 
the  Biblical  English  seems  as  nearly  analogous  to  the  Epic 
Greek,  as  anything  that  our  tongue  has  to  offer. 

We  present  the  so-called  "Lang  translations"  of  the  Iliad 
and  the  Odyssey  in  the  present  work. 


THE 


ILIAD  OF  HOMER 


DONE  INTO  ENGLISH  PROSE 


BY 
ANDREW  LANG,   M.A. 

LATE  FELLOW  OF  MERTON  COLLEGE,  OXFORD 

WALTER   LEAF,  LiTT.D. 

LATB  FELLOW  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE 

ERNEST  MYERS,   M.A. 

LATE  FELLOW  OF  WADHAM  COLLEGE.  OXFORD 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 

BY  THE 

REV.   W.   LUCAS   COLLINS,  M.A. 


The  sacred  soil  of  Ilios  is  rent 

With  shaft  and  pit  ;  foiled  waters  wander  slow 
Through  plains  where  Simois  and  Scamander  went 

To  WAR  with  gods  and  heroes  long  ago. 
Not  yet  to  dark  Cassandra  lying  low 

In  rich  Mycen^  do  the  Fates  relent; 
The  bones  of  Agamemnon  are  a  show. 

And  ruined  is  his  royal  monument. 
The  dust  and  awful  treasures  of  the  dead 

Hath  Learning  scattered  wide,  but  vainly  thee. 
Homer,  she  meteth  with  her  Lesbian  lead. 

And  strives  to  rend  thy  songs,  too  blind  is  she 
To  KNOW  the  crown  on  thine  immortal  head 

Of  indivisible  supremacy. 

—  Andrew  Lang. 


22 


INTRODUCTION  TO   THE  ILIAD 

BY  THE  REV.  W.  LUCAS  COLLINS,  M.  A. 

The  supposed  date  of  the  story  may  be  taken  as  some 
fifteen  centuries  before  the  Christian  era.  The  great  City  of 
Troy,  or  Ilium,  lay  on  the  coast  of  Asia  Minor — its  reputed 
site  still  bearing  the  name  of  the  Troad,  a  broad  well-watered 
champaign,  with  a  height  still  recognised  as  the  citadel  tower- 
ing above  it.  As  to  its  actual  locality  and  existence,  there  is 
little  ground  for  scepticism.  The  tradition  of  the  name  and 
place  was  unbroken  in  the  early  historical  ages  of  Greece, 
Xerxes,  king  of  Persia,  in  his  expedition,  is  said  to  have  visited 
the  citadel,  and  to  have  offered  there  a  thousand  oxen  to  the 
tutelary  goddess;  possibly,  it  has  been  suggested  [by  Grote] — 
claiming  to  be  the  avenger  of  the  Asiatic  kings  on  their  Euro- 
pean enemies.  Mindarus,  the  Lacedaemonian  admiral,  seventy 
years  later,  sacrificed  there  also;  and  Alexander,  when  he 
crossed  the  Hellespont,  not  only  did  the  same,  but  took  from 
the  temple  some  of  the  sacred  arms  which  were  hung  there 
(said  to  be  those  of  the  heroes  of  the  great  siege),  offering 
up  his  own  in  exchange.  The  founder  of  the  city  was  Ilus, 
son  of  Tros,  and  from  these  mythical  heroes  it  took  its  two 
names. 

Homer's  Tale  of  Troy  embraces  in  the  whole  a  period  of 
thirty  years,  divided  exactly,  in  a  manner  very  convenient  for 
both  poet  and  reader,  into  complete  decades ;  ten  years  of  prep- 
aration for  the  siege,  ten  occupied  in  the  siege  itself  (with 
which  alone  the  Iliad  has  to  do),  and  ten  consumed  in  the 
weary  wanderings  and  final  return  home  of  the  surviving 
Greek  heroes  who  had  taken  part  in  the  expedition. 

The  first  decade  begins  with  the  carrying  off  from  the 
court  of  Menelaus,  king  of  Sparta,  of  his  wife  Helen,  by  a 
young  Asiatic  prince  whom  he  has  entertained  in  his  travels. 
Helen  is  the  reputed  daughter  of  Jupiter  by  Leda,  and  upon 
her  Venus  has  bestowed  the  fatal  endowment  of  matchless 
and  irresistible  beauty.     The  young  prince  whom  she  unhap- 

23 


24  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD 

pily  captivates  is  Paris  or  Alexander,  son  of  Priam,  king  of 
Troy.  Terrible  oracles  had  accompanied  the  birth  of  him  who 
was  to  prove  the  curse  of  his  father's  people.  His  mother 
Hecuba  dreamed  that  she  gave  birth  to  a  flaming  brand.  The 
child  when  born  was  exposed  on  Mount  Ida,  so  as  to  insure 
his  death  in  infancy  without  incurring  the  guilt  of  blood. 
But,  as  in  similar  legends,  the  precaution  did  not  help  to  fulhll 
the  prophecy.  In  the  solitudes  of  the  mountain  he  grew  up, 
a  boy  of  wondrous  beauty,  the  nursling  and  the  favourite  of 
Venus.  There  he  was  called  upon  to  decide  to  whom  the 
"Prize  of  Beauty" — the  golden  apple  thrown  by  Discord  into 
the  feast  of  the  Immortals,  with  that  insidious  legend  in- 
scribed on  it — should  be  awarded.  Three  competing  god- 
desses— Juno,  Venus,  and  Minerva,  who  at  least,  as  the  god- 
dess of  wisdom,  ought  to  have  known  better — appeared  before 
the  young  shepherd  in  all  the  simplicity  of  immortal  costume, 
in  order  that  he  mightdecide  which  of  them  was  "the  fairest." 
Each  tried  to  bribe  him  to  adjudge  the  prize  to  herself.  The 
Queen  of  Heaven  offered  him  power  in  the  future;  Minerva, 
wisdom;  Venus,  the  loveliest  woman  upon  earth.  Paris  chose 
the  last.  It  was  Helen ;  for  Venus  took  it  very  little  into  her 
account  that  she  had  a  husband  already.  It  involved  also, 
according  to  the  most  picturesque  of  the  legends,  a  somewhat 
similar  breach  of  troth  on  Paris's  part.  In  the  valleys  of  Ida 
he  had  already  won  the  love  of  the  nymph  CEnone,  but  he 
deserts  her  without  scruple  under  the  new  temptation  [see 
Tennyson's  poem  CEnone].  He  has  learnt  the  secret  of  his 
royal  birth,  and  is  acknowledged  by  his  father  Priam.  In 
spite  of  the  warnings  of  his  sister  Cassandra,  who  has  a  gift  of 
prophecy,  and  foresees  evil  from  the  expedition ;  in  spite,  too, 
of  the  forsaken  CEnone's  wild  denunciations,  he  fits  out  ships 
and  sets  sail  for  Greece.  Admitted  as  a  guest  to  the  hospitable 
court  of  Menelaus  at  Sparta,  he  charms  both  him  and  Helen 
by  his  many  accomplishments.  The  king,  gallant  and  unsus- 
picious, and  of  somewhat  easy  temperament,  as  appears  from 
several  passages  of  Homer,  leaves  him  still  an  inmate  of  his 
palace,  while  he  himself  makes  a  voyage  to  Crete.  In  the  hus- 
band's absence  Paris  succeeds — not  without  some  degree  of 
violence,  according  to  some  of  the  legends — in  carrying  off  the 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD  25 

wife,  loading  his  ships  at  the  same  time  (to  give  emphatic 
baseness  to  the  exploit)  with  a  rich  freight  of  gold  and  treas- 
'ures,  the  spoils  of  his  absent  host.  So  Venus's  promise  is 
made  good,  and  Priam  weakly  receives  into  his  palace  the 
fatal  beauty  who  is  to  prove  the  ruin  of  the  Trojan  fortunes. 

The  outrage  rouses  all  Greece  to  arms.  Menelaus  appeals 
to  his  brother  Agamemnon,  king  of  Argos  and  Mycenae,  who 
held  some  sort  of  suzerainty  over  the  whole  of  Greece.  The 
brother-kings  were  the  sons  of  Atreus,  of  the  great  house  of 
Pelops,  who  gave  his  name  to  the  peninsula  known  as  the  Pelo- 
ponnesus, and  now  the  Morea.  It  was  a  house  eminent  for 
wealth  and  splendor  and  influence.  To  the  monarchs  of  the 
house  of  Pelops,  belonged  in  uncommon  degree  "the  divinity 
that  doth  hedge  a  king";  and  Agamemnon  is  recognised, 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  Homeric  story,  as  preeminently 
"King  of  Men." 

The  royal  sons  of  Atreus  take  hasty  counsel  with  such 
of  the  neighboring  kings  and  chiefs  as  they  can  collect,  how 
they  may  avenge  the  wrong.  One  legend  tells  us  that  Tyn- 
darus,  the  reputed  father  of  Helen,  before  he  gave  her  in 
marriage  to  Menelaus,  had  pledged  all  her  suitors,  among 
whom  were  the  noblest  names  of  Greece,  to  avenge  any  such 
attempt  against  the  honor  of  the  husband  he  should  choose 
for  her,  whichever  of  them  he  might  be:  and  that  they  now 
redeemed  that  pledge  when  called  upon  by  the  king  of  Sparta. 
Nestor,  king  of  Pylos,  and  a  chief  named  Palamedes,  went 
through  the  coasts  of  Greece,  denouncing  the  perfidy  of  the 
foreign  adventurer,  and  rousing  the  national  feeling  of  the 
Greeks,  or,  as  Homer  prefers  to  call  them,  the  Achaeans.  The 
chiefs  did  not  all  obey  the  summons  willingly.  Odysseus — 
better  known  to  U€  under  the  Latin  form  of  his  name  as 
Ulysses — king  of  the  rocky  island  of  Ithaca,  feigned  mad- 
ness to  escape  from  his  engagement.  But  the  shrewd  Pala- 
medes detected  the  imposture.  He  went  to  the  field  where 
the  king,  after  the  simple  fashion  of  the  times,  was  ploughing, 
carrying  with  him  from  the  house  his  infant  child  Telemachus, 
and  laid  him  down  in  the  furrow  which  Ulysses  was  moodily 
driving,  apparently  insensible  to  all  other  sights  and  sounds. 
The  father  turned  the  plough  aside,  and  his  assumed  madness 


26  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD 

was  at  once  detected.  In  some  cases,  where  there  were  sev- 
eral sons  of  military  age  in  the  same  family,  lots  were  cast 
for  the  unwelcome  honor  of  serving  against  Troy.  Some 
even  sent  bribes  to  Agamemnon  to  induce  him  to  set  them 
free  from  their  engagement.  Echepolus  of  Sicyon,  loath  to 
leave  his  vast  possessions,  sent  to  the  great  king  his  cele- 
brated mare  CEthe,  the  fleetest  of  her  kind,  as  his  personal 
ransom.  The  bribe  was  accepted,  and  CEthe  went  to  Troy 
instead  of  her  luxurious  master.  The  story  has  been  adduced 
in  proof  of  Agamemnon's  greediness  in  thus  preferring  pri- 
vate gain  to  the  public  interests ;  but  no  less  a  critic  than  Aris- 
totle has  sagaciously  observed,  that  a  good  horse  was  a  far 
more  valuable  conscript  than  an  unwilling  soldier.  Some 
heroes,  on  the  other  hand,  went  resolutely  to  the  war,  though 
the  fates  foretold  that  they  should  never  return  from  it  alive. 
Euchenor  of  Corinth,  though  rich  like  Echepolus,  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  remain  at  home,  even  when  his  aged  father, 
who  was  a  seer  himself,  forewarned  him  of  his  doom;  he 
boldly  dared  his  fate,  and  fell  at  the  close  of  the  siege  by 
the  hand  of  Paris. 

Under  somewhat  similar  auguries  the  great  hero  of 
Homer's  tale  left  his  home  for  Troy.  Achilles,  said  the 
legends,  was  the  son  of  the  ocean-goddess  Thetis  by  a  mortal 
lover,  Peleus,  son  of  -<Eacus.  He  is  the  very  model  of  a  hero, 
such  as  heroes  would  be  accounted  in  times  when  the  softer 
and  nobler  qualities  of  true  heroism  were  unknown.  Strong 
and  beautiful  in  person,  as  a  goddess-born  should  be;  haughty, 
and  prompt  to  resent  insult,  but  gallant  and  generous;  pas- 
sionate alike  in  his  love  and  in  his  hate;  a  stanch  friend,  and 
a  bitter  enemy.  He  is  the  prototype  of  Sir  Lancelot  in  many 
points — "the  goodliest  person  that  ever  came  among  press 
of  knights — the  truest  friend  to  his  lover  that  ever  bestrod 
horse — the  sternest  man  to  his  mortal  foe  that  ever  put  spear 
in  rest."  The  epithet  which  Homer  himself  gives  him  is 
precisely  that  which  was  given  to  the  English  king  who  was 
held  to  be  the  flower  of  chivalry — "Lionheart."  Though  in 
personal  strength  and  speed  of  foot  he  excels  all  the  other 
heroes  of  the  expedition,  yet  he  is  not  a  mere  fighter,  like  his 
comrade  Ajax,  but  has  all  the  finer  tastes  and  accomplish- 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD  27 

ments  of  an  age  which,  however  fierce  and  barbarous  in  many 
respects,  shows  yet  a  high  degree  of  civiHsation.  Music  and 
song  beguile  for  him  the  intervals  of  battle,  and,  whether 
indignant,  sarcastic,  or  pathetic,  he  is  always  an  admirable 
speaker.  There  is  something  of  a  melancholy  interest  about 
him,  too,  not  inappropriate  to  a  hero  of  romance,  which  the 
poet  never  allows  us  to  forget.  He  has  come  to  Troy  with 
his  doom  upon  him,  and  he  knows  it.  His  goddess-mother 
has  told  him  that  there  is  a  twofold  destiny  possible  for  him ; 
either  to  live  in  wealth  and  peace,  and  such  happiness  as  they 
can  bring,  a  long  life  of  inglorious  ease  in  his  native  land 
of  Phthia,  or  to  embrace  in  foreign  warfare  a  brief  career 
of  victory,  a  warrior's  death,  and  undying  glory.  He  makes 
his  choice  as  a  hero  should — 

One    crowded    hour    of    glorious    life 
Is   worth   an   age   without  a   name. 

One  fable  runs  that  his  mother,  Thetis,  dipped  him  when 
an  infant  in  the  river  Styx,  which  made  him  invulnerable  in 
every  point  except  the  heel,  by  which  she  held  him :  but  there 
is  no  mention  of  this  in  the  Iliad,  and  he  goes  into  battle, 
for  all  that  appears,  as  liable  to  wounds  and  death  as  any 
other  mortal  warrior,  and  with  a  presentiment  that  the  last 
awaits  him  before  the  capture  of  Troy  is  complete. 

At  length  the  ten  years'  preparations  were  all  completed. 
The  harbour  of  Aulis  on  the  coast  of  Boeotia  was  the  place 
fixed  for  the  rendezvous.  From  every  quarter  where  the  great 
race  of  the  Achseans  had  settled, — from  the  wooded  valleys 
of  Thessaly,  from  all  the  coasts  of  the  Peloponnesus,  and 
the  neighboring  islands,  from  Ithaca  and  Cephallenia  on  the 
west  to  Crete  and  Rhodes  on  the  east — the  chiefs  and  their 
following  were  gathered.  In  all  there  were  twelve  hundred 
vessels,  carrying  above  100,000  men. 

The  great  host  set  sail;  but  the  first  time,  says  the  legend, 
they  missed  their  way.  They  mistook  a  part  of  the  coast 
called  Teuthrania  for  the  plains  of  Troy ;  and  then,  re-embark- 
ing, were  driven  by  a  storm  back  to  the  shores  of  Greece.  A 
second  time  they  made  their  rendezvous  at  Aulis;  but  Aga- 
memnon had  incurred  the  anger  of  Diana,  and  the  fleet  lay 


28  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD 

wind-bound  for  many  weeks.  It  was  then  that  deed  of  purest 
tragedy  was  done,  which  though  it  forms  no  part  of  Homer's 
story,  has  been  so  often  the  subject  of  song,  of  painting,  and 
of  sculpture,  and  has  received  so  many  illustrations  in  modern 
literature,  that  it  must  find  place  here.  The  king  is  informed 
by  the  oracle  that  the  wrath  of  Heaven  can  only  be  appeased 
by  the  sacrifice  of  his  virgin  daughter  Iphianassa,  or  as  she  is 
more  commonly  called,  Iphigenia.  Reluctantly,  and  only  after 
a  bitter  struggle  with  his  feelings,  urged  by  the  importunate 
clamour  of  the  whole  army,  and  in  obedience  to  his  conception 
of  his  duties  as  their  chief,  the  father  consented.  The  story 
is  immortalised  by  the  anecdote  told  of  Timanthes,  the  painter 
of  Sicyon,  when  competing  with  a  rival  in  a  picture  of  the 
sacrifice.  The  point  of  admitted  difficulty  with  both  the  com- 
petitors was  to  portray  the  agony  in  the  father's  features  at 
the  moment  when  the  sacrificing  priest  was  about  to  strike  the 
fatal  blow.  The  great  artist  represented  the  king  as  wrapping 
his  face  in  the  folds  of  his  mantle,  and  was  at  once  pronounced 
the  winner  of  the  prize.  Mr.  Tennyson — never  more  success- 
ful than  when  he  draws  his  inspiration  from  the  old  classical 
sources — has  made  tasteful  use  of  both  legend  and  anecdote  in 
his  "Dream  of  Fair  Women."    It  is  Iphigenia  who  speaks : 

I  was  cut  off  from  hope  in  that  sad  place. 

Which  yet  to  name  my  spirit  loathes  and  fears: 

My  father  held  his  hand  upon  his  face; 
I,  blinded  with  my  tears, 

Still  strove  to  speak :  my  voice  was  thick  with  sighs. 

As  in  a  dream.    Dimly  I  could  descry 
The  stern  black-bearded  kings  with  wolfish  eyes, 

Waiting  to  see  me  die. 

The  tall  masts  quivered  as  they  lay  afloat, 

The  temples  and  the  people  and  the  shore ; 
One  drew  a  sharp  knife  through  my  tender  throat, 

Slowly, — and  nothing  more. 

The  wrath  of  Diana  is  appeased,  the  favouring  gales  are 
granted,  and  once  more  the  Greek  armament  sets  sail.  They 
break  their  voyage  at  the  island  of  Tenedos;  and  from  thence 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD  29 

Menelaus,  accompanied  by  Ulysses,  who  is  the  diplomatist  of 
the  army,  proceeds  to  Troy  to  make  a  final  demand  for  repara- 
tion. Even  now,  if  the  Trojans  will  give  back  Helen  and 
the  treasures,  the  Greeks  will  be  satisfied.  But  the  terms  were 
rejected,  though  the  reception  of  the  embass)^  at  Troy  seems 
to  mark  a  high  state  of  civilisation.  So  the  expedition  pro- 
ceeds :  but  before  they  make  good  their  landing  on  the  Trojan 
coast,  the  Fates  demand  another  victim.  The  oracle  had  said 
that  the  first  who  set  foot  on  Trojan  soil  must  fall.  There 
was  a  hesitation  even  among  the  bravest  of  the  Greeks,  and 
the  Trojans  and  their  allies  were  lining  the  shore.  Protesilaus 
of  Phylace,  with  a  gallant  disregard  of  omens,  leapt  to  land, 
and  fell,  first  of  his  countrymen,  by  a  Dardanian  spear- 
launched,  as  one  legend  has  it,  by  the  noble  hand  of  Hector. 
Homer  has  a  pathetic  touch  in  his  mention  of  him: 

Unfinished  his  proud  palaces  remain, 

And  his  sad  consort  beats  her  breast  in  vain. 

The  Trojans,  too,  had  their  allies,  who  came  to  their  aid, 
when  the  invasion  was  imminent,  from  the  neighbouring  tribes 
of  Mysia,  Caria,  Phrygia,  and  even  the  coast  towns  of  Thrace. 
The  most  renowned  of  these  auxiliary  chiefs  were  Sarpedon, 
who  led  the  Lycian  troops,  and  ^neas,  commander  of  the  Dar- 
danians.  Both  claimed  an  immortal  descent,  ^Eneas  was  the 
son  of  Venus  by  a  human  lover,  Anchises,  and  sprung  from  a 
branch  of  the  royal  house  of  Troy :  Sarpedon's  father  was  no 
less  than  Jupiter  himself.  Next  after  Hector,  the  most  war- 
like, but  not  the  eldest  of  the  sons  of  Priam,  these  are  the 
most  illustrious  names  on  the  side  of  the  Trojans  in  Homer's 
story.  But  the  force  of  the  invaders  was  too  strong  to  allow 
their  adversaries  to  keep  the  open  field.  Soon  they  were 
driven  inside  the  walls  of  the  city,  while  the  Greeks  ravaged 
all  the  neighbouring  coast  almost  unopposed,  and  maintained 
themselves  at  the  enemy's  cost.  Then  began  the  weary  siege 
which  wasted  the  hopes  and  resources  of  both  armies  for  ten 
long  years.  To  the  long  night-watches  round  the  camp-fires 
of  the  Greeks  we  are  indebted — so  the  legends  say — for  at 
least  one  invention  which  has  enlivened  many  a  waste  hour 
since,  and  also,  it  perhaps  may  be  said,  has  wasted  some  hours 


30  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ILIAD 

for  its  more  enthusiastic  admirers.  Palamedes,  to  cheer  the 
flagging  spirits  of  his  countrymen,  invented  for  them  among 
other  pastimes,  the  nobler  game  of  chess ;  and  kings  and  castles, 
knights  and  pawns,  still  move  in  illustration  of  the  greater 
game  which  was  then  being  played  on  the  plains  of  Troy. 

So  much  of  preface  seems  almost  necessary  to  enable  any 
reader  to  whom  the  Greek  mythology  is  not  already  familiar 
ground,  to  take  up  Homer's  tale  with  some  such  previous  ac- 
quaintance with  the  subject  as  the  bard  himself  would  have 
given  him  credit  for.  The  want  of  it  has  sometimes  made  the 
study  of  the  Iliad  less  interesting  and  less  intelligent  than  it 
should  have  been,  even  to  those  who  have  approached  it  with 
some  knowledge  of  the  original  language. 

The  galleys  of  the  Greeks,  when  they  reached  the  Trojan 
coast,  were  all  drawn  up  on  shore,  as  was  their  invariable 
custom  at  the  end  of  a  voyage,  and  kept  in  an  upright  posi- 
tion by  wooden  shores.  The  crews,  with  the  exception 
of  some  two  or  three  "ship-keepers"  for  each  galley,  disem- 
barked, and  formed  some  kind  of  encampment  near  their  re- 
spective vessels.  Achilles'  station  was  on  one  wing,  and  that 
of  Ajax  on  the  other;  these  points  of  danger  being  assigned 
to  the  leaders  of  highest  repute  for  valour.  The  chiefs  fought 
in  war-chariots  of  very  light  construction,  on  two  wheels  and 
open  at  the  back.  These  were  drawn  by  two — or  sometimes 
three — horses,  and  carried  two  persons,  both  standing;  the 
fighter,  armed  with  sword  and  shield,  and  one  or  two  long 
spears  which  were  usually  hurled  at  the  enemy — and  his  chario- 
teer, usually  a  friend  of  nearly  equal  rank.  The  fighters  in 
most  cases  dismounted  from  their  chariots  when  they  came 
to  close  quarters,  their  charioteers  attending  on  their  move- 
ments. The  combatants  of  lower  degree  fought  on  foot. 
There  is  no  mention  of  cavalry. 


THE  ILIAD 

BOOK  I 

How  Agamemnon  and  Achilles  fell  out  at  the  siege  of  Troy; 
and  Achilles  withdrew  himself  from  battle,  and  won  from  Zeus  a 
pledge  that  his  wrong  should  be  avenged  on  Agamemnon  and  the 
Achaians. 

Sing,  goddess,  the  wrath  of  Achilles  Peleus'  son,  the  ruin- 
ous wrath  that  brought  on  the  Achaians  woes  innumerable,  and 
hurled  down  into  Hades  many  strong  souls  of  heroes,  and 
gave  their  bodies  to  be  a  prey  to  dogs  and  all  winged 
fowls;  and  so  the  counsel  of  Zeus  wrought  out  its  accom- 
plishment from  the  day  when  first  strife  parted  Atreides  king 
of  men  and  noble  Achilles. 

Who  then  among  the  gods  set  the  twain  at  strife  and 
variance?  Even  the  son  of  Leto  and  of  Zeus;  for  he  in 
anger  at  the  king  sent  a  sore  plague  upon  the  host,  that  the 
folk  began  to  perish,  because  Atreides  had  done  dishonour 
to  Chryses  the  priest.  For  he  had  come  to  the  Achaians' 
fleet  ships  to  win  his  daughter's  freedom,  and  brought  a 
ransom  beyond  telling;  and  bare  in  his  hands  the  fillet  of 
Apollo  the  Far-darter  upon  a  golden  staff;  and  made  his 
prayer  unto  all  the  Achaians,  and  most  of  all  to  the  two 
sons  of  Atreus,  orderers  of  the  host:  "Ye  sons  of  Atreus 
and  all  ye  well-greaved  Achaians,  now  may  the  gods  that 
dwell  in  the  mansions  of  Olympus  grant  you  to  lay  waste  the 
city  of  Priam,  and  to  fare  happily  homeward;  only  set  ye 
my  dear  child  free,  and  accept  the  ransom  in  reverence  to 
the  son  of  Zeus,  far-darting  Apollo." 

Then  all  the  other  Achaians  cried  assent,  to  reverence 
the  priest  and  accept  his  goodly  ransom ;  yet  the  thing  pleased 
not  the  heart  of  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus,  but  he 
roughly  sent  him  away,  and  laid  stern  charge  upon  him,  say- 
ing:   "Let  me  not  find  thee,  old  man,  amid  the  hollow  ships, 

31 


32  HOMER 

whether  tarrying  now  or  returning  again  hereafter,  lest  the 
staff  and  fillet  of  the  god  avail  thee  naught.  And  her  will 
I  not  set  free;  nay,  ere  that  shall  old  age  come  on  her  in 
our  house,  in  Argos,  far  from  her  native  land,  where  she  shall 
ply  the  loom  and  serve  my  couch.  But  depart,  provoke 
me  not,  that  thou  mayest  the  rather  go  in  peace." 

So  said  he,  and  the  old  man  was  afraid  and  obeyed  his 
word,  and  fared  silently  along  the  shore  of  the  loud-sound- 
ing sea.  Then  went  that  aged  man  apart  and  prayed  aloud 
to  king  Apollo,  whom  Leto  of  the  fair  locks  bare :  "Hear  me, 
god  of  the  silver  bow,  that  standest  over  Chryse  and  holy 
Killa,  and  rulest  Tenedos  with  might,  O  Smintheus!  H 
ever  I  built  a  temple  gracious  in  thine  eyes,  or  if  ever  I  burnt 
to  thee  fat  flesh  of  thighs  of  bulls  or  goats,  fulfil  thou  this  my 
desire;  let  the  Danaans  pay  by  thine  arrows  for  my  tears." 

So  spake  he  in  prayer,  and  Phoebus  Apollo  heard  him, 
and  came  down  from  the  peaks  of  Olympus  wroth  at  heart, 
bearing  on  his  shoulders  his  bow  and  covered  quiver.  And 
the  arrows  clanged  upon  his  shoulders  in  his  wrath,  as  the 
god  moved;  and  he  descended  like  to  night.  Then  he  sate 
him  aloof  from  the  ships,  and  let  an  arrow  fly ;  and  there  was 
heard  a  dread  clanging  of  the  silver  bow.  First  did  he 
assail  the  mules  and  fleet  dogs,  but  afterward,  aiming  at  the 
men  his  piercing  dart,  he  smote;  and  the  pyres  of  the  dead 
burnt  continually  in  multitude. 

Now  for  nine  days  ranged  the  god's  shafts  through  the 
host;  but  on  the  tenth  Achilles  summoned  the  folk  to  assem- 
bly, for  in  his  mind  did  goddess  Hera  of  the  white  arms 
put  the  thought,  because  she  had  pity  on  the  Danaans  when 
she  beheld  them  perishing.  Now  when  they  had  gathered 
and  were  met  in  assembly,  then  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  stood 
up  and  spake  among  them:  "Son  of  Atreus,  now  deem  I 
that  we  shall  return  wandering  home  again — if  verily  we 
might  escape  death — if  war  at  once  and  pestilence  must 
indeed  ravage  the  Achaians.  But  come,  let  us  now  inquire 
of  some  soothsayer  or  priest,  yea,  or  an  interpreter  of  dreams 
— seeing  that  a  dream  too  is  of  Zeus — who  shall  say  where- 
fore Phoebus  Apollo  is  so  wroth,  whether  he  blame  us  by 
reason  of  vow  or  hecatomb;  if  perchance  he  would  accept 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    I  33 

the  savour  of   lambs  or  unblemished   goats,   and  so   would 
take  away  the  pestilence  from  us." 

So  spake  he  and  sate  him  down;  and  there  stood  up 
before  them  Kalchas  son  of  Thestor,  most  excellent  far  of 
augurs,  who  knew  both  things  that  were  and  that  should  be 
and  that  had  been  before,  and  guided  the  ships  of  the  Achaians 
to  Ilios  by  his  soothsaying  that  Phcebus  Apollo  bestowed  on 
him.  He  of  good  intent  made  harangue  and  spake  amid 
them:  "Achilles,  dear  to  Zeus,  thou  biddest  me  tell  the  wrath 
of  Apollo,  the  king  that  smiteth  afar.  Therefore  will  I  speak ; 
but  do  thou  make  covenant  with  me,  and  swear  that  verily 
with  all  thy  heart  thou  wilt  aid  me  both  by  word  and  deed. 
For  of  a  truth  I  deem  that  I  shall  provoke  one  that  ruleth 
all  the  Argives  with  might,  and  whom  the  Achaians  obey. 
For  a  king  is  more  of  might  when  he  is  wroth  with  a  meaner 
man;  even  though  for  the  one  day  he  swallow  his  anger,  yet 
doth  he  still  keep  his  displeasure  thereafter  in  his  breast  till 
he  accomplish  it.  Consider  thou,  then,  if  thou  wilt  hold  me 
safe." 

And  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  made  answer  and  spake  to 
him:  "Yea,  be  of  good  courage,  speak  whatever  soothsaying 
thou  knowest;  for  by  Apollo  dear  to  Zeus,  him  by  whose 
worship  thou,  O  Kalchas,  declarest  thy  soothsaying  to  the 
Danaans,  no  man  while  I  live  and  behold  light  on  earth 
shall  lay  violent  hands  upon  thee  amid  the  hollow  ships;  no 
man  of  all  the  Danaans,  not  even  if  thou  mean  Agamemnon, 
that  now  avoweth  him  to  be  greatest  far  of  the  Achaians." 

Then  was  the  noble  seer  of  good  courage,  and  spake: 
"Neither  by  reason  of  a  vow  is  he  displeased,  nor  for  any 
hecatomb,  but  for  his  priest's  sake  to  whom  Agamemnon 
did  despite,  and  set  not  his  daughter  free  and  accepted  not 
the  ransom ;  therefore  hath  the  Far-darter  brought  woes  upon 
us,  yea,  and  will  bring.  Nor  will  he  ever  remove  the  loathly 
pestilence  from  the  Damnns  till  we  have  given  the  bright- 
eyed  damsel  to  her  father,  unbought,  unransomed,  and  car- 
ried a  holy  hecatomb  to  Chryse ;  then  might  we  propitiate  him 
to  our  prayer." 

So  said  he  and  sate  him  down,  and  there  stood  up  before 
them  the  hero  son  of  Atreus,  wide-ruling  Agamemnon,  sore 


34  HOMER 

displeased;  and  his  dark  heart  within  him  was  greatly  filled 
with  anger,  and  his  eyes  were  like  flashing  fire.  To  Kalchas 
first  spake  he  with  look  of  ill:  "Thou  seer  of  evil,  never  yet 
hast  thou  told  me  the  thing  that  is  pleasant.  Evil  is  ever 
the  joy  of  thy  heart  to  prophesy,  but  never  yet  didst  thou 
tell  any  good  matter  nor  bring  it  to  pass.  And  now  with 
soothsaying  thou  makest  harangue  among  the  Danaans,  how 
that  the  Far-darter  bringeth  woes  upon  them  because,  for- 
sooth, I  would  not  take  the  goodly  ransom  of  the  damsel 
Chryseis,  seeing  I  am  the  rather  fain  to  keep  her  own  self 
within  mine  house.  Yea,  I  prefer  her  before  Klytaimnestra 
my  wedded  wife;  in  no  wise  is  she  lacking  beside  her, 
neither  in  favour  nor  stature,  nor  wit  nor  skill.  Yet  for 
all  this  will  I  give  her  back,  if  that  is  better;  rather  would 
I  see  my  folk  whole  than  perishing.  Only  make  ye  me  ready 
a  prize  of  honour  forthwith,  lest  I  alone  of  all  the  Argives 
be  disprized,  which  thing  beseemeth  not;  for  ye  all  behold 
how  my  prize  is  departing  from  me." 

To  him  then  made  answer  fleet-footed  goodly  Achilles: 
"Most  noble  son  of  Atreus,  of  all  men  most  covetous,  how 
shall  the  great-hearted  Achaians  give  thee  a  meed  of  honour? 
We  know  naught  of  any  wealth  of  common  store,  but  what 
spoil  soe'er  we  took  from  captured  cities  hath  been  appor- 
tioned, and  it  beseemeth  not  to  beg  all  this  back  from  the 
folk.  Nay,  yield  thou  the  damsel  to  the  god,  and  we 
Achaians  will  pay  thee  back  threefold  and  fourfold,  if  ever 
Zeus  grant  us  to  sack  some  well-walled  town  of  Troy-land." 

To  him  lord  Agamemnon  made  answer  and  said:  "Not 
in  this  wise,  strong  as  thou  art,  O  godlike  Achilles,  beguile 
thou  me  by  craft;  thou  shalt  not  outwit  me  nor  persuade 
me.  Dost  thou  wish,  that  thou  mayest  keep  thy  meed  of 
honour,  for  me  to  sit  idle  in  bereavement,  and  biddest  me 
give  her  back?  Nay,  if  the  great-hearted  Achaians  will  give 
me  a  meed  suited  to  my  mind,  that  the  recompense  be  equal 
— but  if  they  give  it  not,  then  I  myself  will  go  and  take 
a  meed  of  honour,  thine  be  it  or  Aias',  or  Odysseus'  that  I 
will  take  unto  me;  wroth  shall  he  be  to  whomsoever  I  come. 
But  for  this  we  will  take  counsel  hereafter;  now  let  us  launch 
a  black  ship  on  the  great  sea,  and  gather  picked  oarsmen, 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   I  35 

and  set  therein  a  hecatomb,  and  embark  Chryseis  of  the  fair 
cheeks  herself,  and  let  one  of  our  counsellors  be  captain,  Aias 
or  Idomeneus  or  goodly  Odysseus,  or  thou,  Peleides,  most 
redoubtable  of  men,  to  do  sacrifice  for  us  and  propitiate  the 
Far-darter." 

Then  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  looked  at  him  scowling  and 
said :  "Ah  me,  thou  clothed  in  shamelessness,  thou  of  crafty 
mind,  how  shall  any  Achaian  hearken  to  thy  bidding  with 
all  his  heart,  be  it  to  go  a  journey  or  to  fight  the  foe  amain? 
Not  by  reason  of  the  Trojan  spearmen  came  I  hither  to  fight, 
for  they  have  not  wronged  me;  never  did  they  harry 
mine  oxen  nor  my  horses,  nor  ever  waste  my  harvest  in  deep- 
soiled  Phthia,  the  nurse  of  men;  seeing  there  lieth  between 
us  long  space  of  shadowy  mountains  and  sounding  sea;  but 
thee,  thou  shameless  one,  followed  we  hither  to  make  thee 
glad,  by  earning  recompense  at  the  Trojans'  hands  for 
Menelaos  and  for  thee,  thou  dog  face!  All  this  thou 
reckonest  not  nor  takest  thought  thereof;  and  now  thou 
threatenest  thyself  to  take  my  meed  of  honour,  where  for 
I  travailed  much,  and  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  gave  it  me. 
Never  win  I  meed  like  unto  thine,  when  the  Achaians  sack 
any  populous  citadel  of  Trojan  men;  my  hands  bear  the 
brunt  of  furious  war,  but  when  the  apportioning  cometh  then 
is  thy  meed  far  ampler,  and  I  betake  me  to  the  ships  with 
some  small  thing,  yet  mine  own,  when  I  have  fought  to  weari- 
ness. Now  will  I  depart  to  Phthia,  seeing  it  is  far  better  to 
return  home  on  my  beaked  ships;  nor  am  I  minded  here  in 
dishonour  to  draw  thee  thy  fill  of  riches  and  wealth." 

Then  Agamemnon  king  of  men  made  answer  to  him: 
"Yea,  flee,  if  thy  soul  be  set  thereon.  It  is  not  I  that  beseech 
thee  to  tarry  for  my  sake;  I  have  others  by  my  side  that 
shall  do  me  honour,  and  above  all  Zeus,  lord  of  counsel. 
Most  hateful  art  thou  to  me  of  all  kings,  fosterlings  of  Zeus ; 
thou  ever  lovest  strife  and  wars  and  fightings.  Though  thou 
be  very  strong,  yet  that  I  ween  is  a  gift  to  thee  of  God.  Go 
home  with  thy  ships  and  company  and  lord  it  among  thy 
Myrmidons;  I  reck  not  aught  of  thee  nor  care  I  for  thine 
indignation;  and  this  shall  be  my  threat  to  thee;  seeing 
Phoebus  Apollo  bereaveth  me  of  Chryseis,  her  with  my  ship 


36  HOMER 

and  my  company  will  I  send  back;  and  mine  own  self  will  I 
go  to  thy  hut  and  take  Briseis  of  the  fair  cheeks,  even  that 
thy  meed  of  honour,  that  thou  mayest  well  know  how  far 
greater  I  am  than  thou,  and  so  shall  another  hereafter  abhor 
to  match  his  words  with  mine  and  rival  me  to  my  face." 

So  said  he,  and  grief  came  upon  Peleus'  son,  and  his 
heart  within  his  shaggy  breast  was  divided  in  counsel,  whether 
to  draw  his  keen  blade  from  his  thigh  and  set  the  company 
aside  and  so  slay  Atreides,  or  to  assuage  his  anger  and  curb 
his  soul.  While  yet  he  doubted  thereof  in  heart  and  soul, 
and  was  drawing  his  great  sword  from  his  sheath,  Athene 
came  to  him  from  heaven,  sent  forth  of  the  white-armed 
goddess  Hera,  whose  heart  loved  both  alike  and  had  care 
for  them.  She  stood  behind  Peleus'  son  and  caught  him  by 
his  golden  hair,  to  him  only  visible,  and  of  the  rest  no  man 
beheld  her.  Then  Achilles  marvelled,  and  turned  him  about, 
and  straightway  knew  Pallas  Athene;  and  terribly  shone  her 
eyes.  He  spake  to  her  winged  words,  and  said:  "Why 
now  art  thou  come  hither,  thou  daughter  of  aegis-bearing 
Zeus?  Is  it  to  behold  the  insolence  of  Agamemnon,  son 
of  Atreus?  Yea,  I  will  tell  thee  that  I  deem  shall  even  be 
brought  to  pass:  by  his  own  haughtinesses  shall  he  soon  lose 
his  life." 

Then  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  spake  to  him  again : 
"I  came  from  heaven  to  stay  thine  anger,  if  perchance  thou 
wilt  hearken  to  me,  being  sent  forth  of  the  white-armed 
goddess  Hera,  that  loveth  you  twain  alike  and  careth  for  you. 
Go  to  now,  cease  from  strife,  and  let  not  thine  hand  draw 
the  sword;  yet  with  words  indeed  revile  him,  even  as  it  shall 
come  to  pass.  For  thus  will  I  say  to  thee,  and  so  it  shall  be 
fulfilled;  hereafter  shall  goodly  gifts  come  to  thee,  yea  in 
threefold  measure,  by  reason  of  this  despite ;  hold  thou  thine 
hand,  and  hearken  to  us," 

And  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  made  answer  and  said  to  her : 
"Goddess,  needs  must  a  man  observe  the  saying  of  you 
twain,  even  though  he  be  very  wroth  at  heart ;  for  so  is  the 
better  way.  Whosoever  obeyeth  the  gods,  to  him  they 
gladly  hearken." 

He  said,  and  stayed  his  heavy  hand  on  the  silver  hilt, 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   I  37 

and  thrust  the  great  sword  back  into  the  sheath,  and  was  not 
disobedient  to  the  saying  of  Athene;  and  she  forthwith  was 
departed  to  Olympus,  to  the  other  gods  in  the  palace  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus. 

Then  Peleus'  son  spake  again  with  bitter  words  to  Atreus' 
son,  and  in  no  wise  ceased  from  anger:  "Thou  heavy 
with  wine,  thou  with  face  of  dog  and  heart  of  deer, 
never  didst  thou  take  courage  to  arm  for  battle  among  thy 
folk  or  to  lay  ambush  with  the  princes  of  the  Achaians; 
that  to  thee  were  even  as  death.  Far  better  booteth  it,  for- 
sooth, to  seize  for  thyself  the  meed  of  honour  of  every  man 
through  the  wide  host  of  the  Achaians  that  speaketh  con- 
trary to  thee.  Folk-devouring  king!  seeing  thou  rulest  men 
of  naught;  else  were  this  despite,  thou  son  of  Atreus,  thy 
last.  But  I  will  speak  my  word  to  thee,  and  swear  a  mighty 
oath  therewith ;  verily  by  this  stafT  that  shall  no  more  put 
forth  leaf  or  twig,  seeing  it  hath  for  ever  left  its  trunk  among 
the  hills,  neither  shall  it  grow  green  again,  because  the  axe 
hath  stripped  it  of  leaves  and  bark;  and  now  the  sons  of 
the  Achaians  that  exercise  judgment  bear  it  in  their  hands, 
even  they  that  by  Zeus'  command  watch  over  the  traditions 
— so  shall  this  be  a  mighty  oath  in  thine  eyes — ^verily  shall 
longing  for  Achilles  come  hereafter  upon  the  sons  of  the 
Achaians  one  and  all;  and  then  wilt  thou  in  no  wise  avail 
to  save  them,  for  all  thy  grief,  when  multitudes  fall  dying 
before  manslaying  Hector.  Then  shalt  thou  tear  thy  heart 
within  thee  for  anger  that  thou  didst  in  no  wise  honour  the 
best  of  the  Achaians." 

So  said  Peleides  and  dashed  to  earth  the  staff  studded  with 
golden  nails,  and  himself  sat  down;  and  over  against  him 
Atreides  waxed  furious.  Then  in  their  midst  rose  up  Nestor, 
pleasant  of  speech,  the  clear-voiced  orator  of  the  Pylians,  he 
from  whose  tongue  flowed  discourse  sweeter  than  honey.  Two 
generations  of  mortal  men  already  had  he  seen  perish,  that 
had  been  of  old  time  born  and  nurtured  with  him  in  goodly 
Pylos,  and  he  was  king  among  the  third.  He  of  good  intent 
made  harangue  to  them  and  said :  "Alas,  of  a  truth  sore  lamen- 
tation Cometh  upon  the  land  of  Achaia.  Verily  Priam  would 
be  glad  and  Priam's  sons,  and  all  the  Trojans  would  have 


38  HOMER 

great  joy  of  heart,  were  they  to  hear  all  this  tale  of  strife 
between  you  twain  that  are  chiefest  of  the  Danaans  in  counsel 
and  chiefest  in  battle.  Nay,  hearken  to  me;  ye  are  younger 
both  than  I.  Of  old  days  held  I  converse  with  better  men  even 
than  you,  and  never  did  they  make  light  of  me.  Yea,  I  never 
beheld  such  warriors,  nor  shall  behold,  as  were  Peirithoos  and 
Dryas  shepherd  of  the  host  and  Kaineus  and  Exadios  and  god- 
like Polyphemos  and  Theseus  son  of  Aigeus,  like  to  the  im- 
mortals. Mightiest  of  growth  were  they  of  all  men  upon 
the  earth;  mightiest  they  were  and  with  the  mightiest  fought 
they,  even  the  wild  tribes  of  the  mountain  caves,  and  destroyed 
them  utterly.  And  with  these  held  I  converse,  being  come 
from  Pylos,  from  a  distant  land  afar;  for  of  themselves  they 
summoned  me.  So  I  played  my  part  in  fight;  and  with  them 
could  none  of  men  that  are  now  on  earth  do  battle.  And  they 
laid  to  heart  my  counsels  and  hearkened  to  my  voice.  Even 
so  hearken  ye  also,  for  better  is  it  to  hearken.  Neither  do 
thou,  though  thou  art  very  great,  seize  from  him  his  damsel, 
but  leave  her  as  she  was  given  at  the  first  by  the  sons  of  the 
Achaians  to  be  a  meed  of  honour ;  nor  do  thou,  son  of  Peleus, 
think  to  strive  with  a  king,  might  against  might;  seeing  that 
no  common  honour  pertaineth  to  a  sceptered  king  to  whom 
Zeus  apportioneth  glory.  Though  thou  be  strong,  and  a  god- 
dess mother  bare  thee,  yet  his  is  the  greater  place,  for  he  is 
king  over  more.  And  thou,  Atreides,  abate  thy  fury;  nay,  it 
is  even  I  that  beseech  thee  to  let  go  thine  anger  with  Achilles, 
who  is  made  unto  all  the  Achaians  a  mighty  bulwark  of  evil 
war." 

Then  lord  Agamemnon  answered  and  said :  "  Yea  verily, 
old  man,  all  this  thou  sayest  is  according  unto  right.  But  this 
fellow  would  be  above  all  others,  he  would  be  lord  of  all  and 
king  among  all  and  captain  to  all;  wherein  I  deem  none  will 
hearken  to  him.  Though  the  immortal  gods  made  him  a  spear- 
man, do  they  therefore  put  revilings  in  his  mouth  for  him 
to  utter  ?" 

Then  goodly  Achilles  brake  in  on  him  and  answered: 
"Yea,  for  I  should  be  called  coward  and  man  of  naught,  if  I 
yield  to  thee  in  every  matter,  howsoe'er  thou  bid.  To  others 
give  now  thine  orders,  not  to  me,  play  master ;  for  thee  I  deem 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   I  39 

that  I  shall  no  more  obey.  This,  moreover,  will  I  say  to  thee, 
and  do  thou  lay  it  to  thy  heart.  Know  that  not  by  violence 
will  I  strive  for  the  damsel's  sake,  neither  with  thee  nor  any 
other ;  ye  gave  and  ye  have  taken  away.  But  of  all  else  that  is 
mine  beside  my  fleet  black  ship,  thereof  shalt  thou  not  take 
anything  or  bear  it  away  against  my  will.  Yea,  go  to  now, 
make  trial,  that  all  these  may  see;  forthwith  thy  dark  blood 
shall  gush  about  my  spear." 

Now  when  the  twain  had  thus  finished  the  battle  of  violent 
words,  they  stood  up  and  dissolved  the  assembly  beside  the 
Achaian  ships.  Peleides  went  his  way  to  his  huts  and  trim 
ships  with  Menoitios'  son  [Patroklos]  and  his  company;  and 
Atreides  launched  a  fleet  ship  on  the  sea,  and  picked  twenty 
oarsmen  therefor,  and  embarked  the  hecatomb  for  the  god,  and 
brought  Chryseis  of  the  fair  cheeks  and  set  her  therein;  and 
Odysseus  of  many  devices  went  to  be  their  captain. 

So  these  embarked  and  sailed  over  the  wet  ways;  and 
Atreides  bade  the  folk  purify  themselves.  So  they  purified 
themselves  and  cast  the  defilements  into  the  sea  and  did  sacri- 
fice to  Apollo,  even  unblemished  hecatombs  of  bulls  and  goats, 
along  the  shore  of  the  unvintaged  sea;  and  the  sweet  savour 
arose  to  heaven  eddying  amid  the  smoke. 

Thus  were  they  busied  throughout  the  host ;  but  Agamem- 
non ceased  not  from  the  strife  wherewith  he  threatened 
Achilles  at  the  first;  he  spake  to  Talthybios  and  Eurybates 
that  were  his  heralds  and  nimble  squires:  "Go  ye  to  the  tent 
of  Achilles,  Peleus'  son,  and  take  Briseis  of  the  fair  cheeks 
by  the  hand  and  lead  her  hither ;  and  if  he  give  her  not,  then 
will  I  myself  go,  and  more  with  me,  and  seize  her;  and  that 
will  be  yet  more  grievous  for  him." 

So  saying  he  sent  them  forth,  and  laid  stern  charge  upon 
them.  Unwillingly  went  they  along  the  beach  of  the  unvin- 
taged sea,  and  came  to  the  huts  and  ships  of  the  Myrmidons. 
Him  found  they  sitting  beside  his  hut  and  black  ship;  nor 
when  he  saw  them  was  Achilles  glad.  So  they  in  dread  and 
reverence  of  the  king  stood,  and  spake  to  him  no  word,  nor 
questioned  him.  But  he  knew  in  his  heart,  and  spake  to  them : 
"All  hail,  ye  heralds,  messengers  of  Zeus  and  men,  come  near; 
ye  are  not  guilty  in  my  sight,  but  Agamemnon  that  sent  you 


40  HOMER 

for  the  sake  of  the  damsel  Briseis.  Go  now,  heaven-sprung 
Patroklos,  bring  forth  the  damsel,  and  give  them  her  to  lead 
away.  Moreover,  let  the  twain  themselves  be  my  witnesses 
before  the  face  of  the  blessed  gods  and  mortal  men,  yea  and 
of  him,  that  king  untoward,  against  the  day  when  there 
Cometh  need  of  me  hereafter  to  save  them  all  from  shameful 
wreck.  Of  a  truth  he  raveth  with  baleful  mind,  and  hath  not 
knowledge  to  look  before  and  after,  that  so  his  Achaians 
might  battle  in  safety  beside  their  ships." 

So  said  he,  and  Patroklos  hearkened  to  his  dear  comrade, 
and  led  forth  from  the  hut  Briseis  of  the  fair  cheeks,  and 
gave  them  her  to  lead  away.  So  these  twain  took  their  way 
back  along  the  Achaians'  ships,  and  with  them  went  the  wo- 
man all  unwilling.  Then  Achilles  wept  anon,  and  sat  him 
down  apart,  aloof  from  his  comrades  on  the  beach  of  the 
grey  sea,  gazing  across  the  boundless  main ;  he  stretched  forth 
his  hands  and  prayed  instantly  to  his  dear  mother:  "Mother, 
seeing  thou  didst  of  a  truth  bear  me  to  so  brief  span  of  life, 
honour  at  the  least  ought  the  Olympian  to  have  granted  me, 
even  Zeus  that  thundereth  on  high ;  but  now  doth  he  not  hon- 
our me,  no,  not  one  whit.  Verily  Atreus'  son,  wide-ruling 
Agamemnon,  hath  done  me  dishonour;  for  he  hath  taken 
away  my  meed  of  honour  and  keepeth  her  of  his  own  violent 
deed." 

So  spake  he  weeping,  and  his  lady  mother  heard  him  as 
she  sate  in  the  sea-depths  beside  her  aged  sire.  With  speed 
arose  she  from  the  grey  sea,  like  a  mist,  and  sate  her  before 
the  face  of  her  weeping  son,  and  stroked  him  with  her  hand, 
and  spake  and  called  on  his  name:  "My  child,  why  weepest 
thou?  What  sorrow  hath  entered  into  thy  heart?  Speak  it 
forth,  hide  it  not  in  thy  mind,  that  both  may  know  it." 

Then  with  heavy  moan  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  spake  to  her : 
"Thou  knowest  it ;  why  should  I  tell  this  to  thee  that  knowest 
all !  We  had  fared  to  Thebe,  the  holy  city  of  Eetion,  and  laid 
it  waste  and  carried  hither  all  the  spoils.  So  the  sons  of  the 
Achaians  divided  among  them  all  aright ;  and  for  Atreides 
they  set  apart  Chryseis  of  the  fair  cheeks.  But  Chryses,  priest 
of  Apollo  the  Far-darter,  came  unto  the  fleet  ships  of  the 
mail-clad  Achaians  to  win  his  daughter's  freedom,  and  brought 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    I  41 

a  ransom  beyond  telling,  and  bare  in  his  hands  the  fillet  of 
Apollo  the  Far-darter  upon  a  golden  staff,  and  made  his 
prayer  unto  all  the  Achaians,  and  most  of  all  to  the  two  sons 
of  Atreus,  orderers  of  the  host.  Then  all  the  other  Achaians 
cried  assent,  to  reverence  the  priest  and  accept  his  goodly  ran- 
som; yet  the  thing  pleased  not  the  heart  of  Agamemnon  son 
of  Atreus,  but  he  roughly  sent  him  away  and  laid  stern  charge 
upon  him.  So  the  old  man  went  back  in  anger;  and  Apollo 
heard  his  prayers,  seeing  he  loved  him  greatly,  and  he  aimed 
against  the  Argives  his  deadly  darts.  So  the  people  began 
to  perish  in  multitudes,  and  the  god's  shafts  ranged  every- 
whither throughout  the  wide  host  of  the  Achaians.  Then  of 
full  knowledge  the  seer  declared  to  us  the  oracle  of  the  Far- 
darter.  Forthwith  I  first  bade  propitiate  the  god;  but  wrath 
gat  hold  upon  Atreus'  son  thereat,  and  anon  he  stood  up  and 
spake  a  threatening  word,  that  hath  now  been  accomplished. 
Her  the  glancing-eyed  Achaians  are  bringing  on  their  fleet  ship 
to  Chryse,  and  bear  with  them  offerings  to  the  king;  and  the 
other  but  now  the  heralds  went  and  took  from  my  hut,  even 
the  daughter  of  Briseus,  whom  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  gave 
me.  Thou  therefore,  if  indeed  thou  canst,  guard  thine  own 
son ;  betake  thee  to  Olympus  and  beseech  Zeus  by  any  deed  or 
word  whereby  thou  ever  didst  make  glad  his  heart.  For  oft 
have  I  heard  thee  proclaiming  in  my  father's  halls  and  telling 
that  thou  alone  amid  the  immortals  didst  save  the  son  of 
Kronos,  lord  of  the  storm-cloud,  from  shameful  wreck,  when 
all  the  other  Olympians  would  have  bound  him,  even  Hera 
and  Poseidon  and  Pallas  Athene.  Then  didst  thou,  O  goddess, 
enter  in  and  loose  him  from  his  bonds,  having  with  speed 
summoned  to  high  Olympus  him  of  the  hundred  arms  whom 
gods  call  Briareus,  but  all  men  call  Aigaion ;  for  he  is  mightier 
even  than  his  father — so  he  sate  him  by  Kronion's  side  re- 
joicing in  his  triumph,  and  the  blessed  gods  feared  him  withal 
and  bound  not  Zeus.  This  bring  thou  to  his  remembrance  and 
sit  by  him  and  clasp  his  knees,  if  perchance  he  will  give  suc- 
cour to  the  Trojans;  and  for  the  Achaians,  hem  them  among 
their  ships'  sterns  about  the  bay,  given  over  to  slaughter; 
that  they  may  make  trial  of  their  king,  and  that  even  Atreides, 


42  HOMER 

wide-ruling  Agamemnon,  may  perceive  his  blindness,  in  that 
he  honoured  not  at  all  the  best  of  the  Achaians." 

Then  Thetis  weeping  made  answer  to  him:  "Ah  me,  my 
child,  why  reared  I  thee,  cursed  in  my  motherhood?  Would 
thou  hadst  been  left  tearless  and  griefless  amid  the  ships, 
seeing  thy  lot  is  very  brief  and  endureth  no  long  while;  but 
now  art  thou  made  short-lived  alike  and  lamentable  beyond  all 
men;  in  an  evil  hour  I  bare  thee  in  our  halls.  But  I  will  go 
myself  to  snow-clad  Olympus  to  tell  this  thy  saying  to  Zeus, 
whose  joy  is  in  the  thunder,  if  perchance  he  may  hearken  to 
me.  But  tarry  thou  now  amid  thy  fleet-faring  ships,  and  con- 
tinue wroth  with  the  Achaians,  and  refrain  utterly  from  bat- 
tle :  for  Zeus  went  yesterday  to  Okeanos,  unto  the  noble  Ethi- 
opians for  a  feast,  and  all  the  gods  followed  with  him;  but  on 
the  twelfth  day  will  he  return  to  Olympus,  and  then  will  I 
fare  to  Zeus'  palace  of  the  bronze  threshold,  and  will  kneel  to 
him  and  think  to  win  him." 

So  saying  she  went  her  way  and  left  him  there,  vexed  in 
spirit  for  the  fair-girdled  woman's  sake,  whom  they  had  taken 
perforce  despite  his  will:  and  meanwhile  Odysseus  came  to 
Chryse  with  the  holy  hecatomb.  When  they  were  now  entered 
within  the  deep  haven,  they  furled  their  sails  and  laid  them  in 
the  black  ship,  and  lowered  the  mast  by  the  forestays  and 
brought  it  to  the  crutch  with  speed,  and  rowed  her  with  oars 
to  the  anchorage.  Then  they  cast  out  the  mooring  stones  and 
made  fast  the  hawsers,  and  so  themselves  went  forth  on  to  the 
sea-beach,  and  forth  they  brought  the  hecatomb  for  the  Far- 
darter  Apollo,  and  forth  came  Chryseis  withal  from  the  sea- 
faring ship.  Then  Odysseus  of  many  counsels  brought  her 
to  the  altar  and  gave  her  into  her  father's  arms,  and  spake 
unto  him:  "Chryses,  Agamemnon  king  of  men  sent  me  hither 
to  bring  thee  thy  daughter,  and  to  offer  to  Phoebus  a  holy 
hecatomb  on  the  Danaans'  behalf,  wherewith  to  propitiate  the 
king  that  hath  now  brought  sorrow  and  lamentation  on  the 
Argives." 

So  saying  he  gave  her  to  his  arms,  and  he  gladly  took  his 
dear  child;  and  anon  they  set  in  order  for  the  god  the  holy 
hecatomb  about  his  well-builded  altar;  next  washed  they  their 
hands  and  took  up  the  barley  meal.     Then  Chryses  lifted  up 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   I  43 

his  hands  and  prayed  aloud  for  them:  ''Hearken  to  me,  god 
of  the  silver  bow  that  standest  over  Chryse  and  holy  Killa, 
and  rulest  Tenedos  with  might ;  even  as  erst  thou  heardest  my 
prayer,  and  didst  me  honour,  and  mightily  afflictedst  the  people 
of  the  Achaians,  even  so  now  fulfil  me  this  my  desire :  remove 
thou  from  the  Danaans  forthwith  the  loathly  pestilence." 

So  spake  he  in  prayer,  and  Phoebus  Apollo  heard  him. 
Now  when  they  had  prayed  and  sprinkled  the  barley  meal, 
first  they  drew  back  the  victims'  heads  and  slaughtered  them 
and  flayed  them,  and  cut  slices  from  the  thighs  and  wrapped 
them  in  fat,  making  a  double  fold,  and  laid  raw  collops  there- 
on, and  the  old  man  burnt  them  on  cleft  wood  and  made  liba- 
tion over  them  of  gleaming  wine;  and  at  his  side  the  young 
men  in  their  hands  held  five-pronged  forks.  Now  when  the 
thighs  were  burnt  and  they  had  tasted  the  vitals,  then  sliced 
they  all  the  rest  and  pierced  it  through  with  spits,  and  roasted 
it  carefully,  and  drew  all  off  again.  So  when  they  had  rest 
from  the  task  and  had  made  ready  the  banquet,  they  feasted, 
nor  was  their  heart  aught  stinted  of  the  fair  banquet.  But 
when  they  had  put  away  from  them  the  desire  of  meat  and 
drink,  the  young  men  crowned  the  bowls  with  wine,  and  gave 
each  man  his  portion  after  the  drink-offering  had  been  poured 
into  the  cups.  So  all  day  long  worshipped  they  the  god  with 
music,  singing  the  beautiful  paean,  the  sons  of  the  Achaians 
making  music  to  the  Far-darter;  and  his  heart  was  glad  to 
hear.  And  when  the  sun  went  down  and  darkness  came  on 
them,  they  laid  them  to  sleep  beside  the  ship's  hawsers;  and 
when  rosy-fingered  Dawn  appeared,  the  child  of  morning, 
then  set  they  sail  for  the  wide  camp  of  the  Achaians;  and 
Apollo  the  Far-darter  sent  them  a  favouring  gale.  They  set 
up  their  mast  and  spread  the  white  sails  forth,  and  the  wind 
filled  the  sail's  belly  and  the  dark  wave  sang  loud  about  the 
stem  as  the  ship  made  way,  and  she  sped  across  the  wave, 
accomplishing  her  journey.  So  when  they  were  now  come  to 
the  wide  camp  of  the  Achaians,  they  drew  up  their  black 
ship  to  land  high  upon  the  sands,  and  set  in  line  the  long 
props  beneath  her;  and  themselves  were  scattered  amid  their 
huts  and  ships. 

But  he  sat  by  his  swift-faring  ships,  still  wroth,  even  the 


44  HOMER 

heaven-sprung  son  of  Peleiis,  Acliilles  fleet  of  foot ;  he  betook 
him  neither  to  the  assembly  that  is  the  hero's  glory,  neither  to 
war,  but  consumed  his  heart  in  tarrying  in  his  place,  and 
yearned  for  the  war-cry  and  for  battle. 

Now  when  the  twelfth  morn  thereafter  was  come,  then  the 
gods  that  are  for  ever  fared  to  Olympus  all  in  company,  led 
of  Zeus.  And  Thetis  forgat  not  her  son's  charge,  but  rose  up 
from  the  sea-wave,  and  at  early  morn  mounted  up  to  great 
heaven  and  Olympus.  There  found  she  Kronos'  son  of  the 
far-sounding  voice  sitting  apart  from  all  on  the  topmost  peak 
of  many-ridged  Olympus.  So  she  sat  before  his  face  and  with 
her  left  hand  clasped  his  knees,  and  with  her  right  touched 
him  beneath  his  chin,  and  spake  in  prayer  to  king  Zeus  son  of 
Kronos:  "Father  Zeus,  if  ever  I  gave  thee  aid  amid  the  im- 
mortal gods,  whether  by  word  or  deed,  fulfil  thou  this  my 
desire :  do  honour  to  my  son,  that  is  doomed  to  earliest  deatli 
of  all  men:  now  hath  Agamemnon  king  of  men  done  him  dis- 
honour, for  he  hath  taken  away  his  meed  of  honour  and  keep- 
eth  her  of  his  own  violent  deed.  But  honour  thou  him,  Zeus 
of  Olympus,  lord  of  counsel;  grant  thou  victory  to  the  Tro- 
jans the  while,  until  the  Achaians  do  my  son  honour  and 
exalt  him  with  recompense." 

So  spake  she;  but  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  said  no  word  to 
her,  and  sat  long  time  in  silence.  But  even  as  Thetis  had 
clasped  his  knees,  so  held  she  by  him  clinging,  and  questioned 
him  yet  a  second  time:  "Promise  me  now  this  thing  verily, 
and  bow  thy  head  thereto;  or  else  deny  me,  seeing  there  is 
naught  for  thee  to  fear;  that  I  may  know  full  well  how  I 
among  all  gods  am  least  in  honour." 

Then  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer,  sore  troubled,  spake  to  her : 
"Verily  it  is  a  sorry  matter,  if  thou  wilt  set  me  at  variance  with 
Hera,  whene'er  she  provoketh  me  with  taunting  words.  Even 
now  she  upbraideth  me  ever  amid  the  immortal  gods,  and 
saith  that  I  aid  the  Trojans  in  battle.  But  do  thou  now  de- 
part again,  lest  Hera  mark  aught ;  and  I  will  take  thought  for 
these  things  to  fulfil  them.  Come  now,  I  will  bow  my  head 
to  thee,  that  thou  mayest  be  of  good  courage ;  for  that,  of  my 
part,  is  the  surest  token  amid  the  immortals ;  no  word  of  mine 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    I  45 

is  revocable  nor  false  nor  unfulfilled  when  the  bowing  of  my 
head  hath  pledged  it." 

Kronion  spake,  and  bowed  his  dark  brow,  and  the  am- 
brosial locks  waved  from  the  king's  immortal  head;  and  he 
made  great  Olympus  quake. 

Thus  the  twain  took  counsel  and  parted;  she  leapt  there- 
with into  the  deep  sea  from  glittering  Olympus,  and  Zeus  fared 
to  his  own  palace.  All  the  gods  in  company  arose  from  their 
seats  before  their  father's  face ;  neither  ventured  any  to  await 
his  coming,  but  they  stood  up  all  before  him.  So  he  sate  him 
there  upon  his  throne;  but  Hera  saw,  and  was  not  ignorant 
how  that  the  daughter  of  the  Ancient  of  the  sea,  Thetis  the 
silver-footed,  had  devised  counsel  with  him.  Anon  with  taunt- 
ing words  spake  she  to  Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos:  "Now  who 
among  the  gods,  thou  crafty  of  mind,  hath  devised  counsel 
with  thee?  It  is  ever  thy  good  pleasure  to  hold  aloof  from 
me  and  in  secret  meditation  to  give  thy  judgments,  nor  of  thine 
own  good  will  hast  thou  ever  brought  thyself  to  declare  unto 
me  the  thing  thou  purposest." 

Then  the  fathers  of  gods  and  men  made  answer  to  her: 
"Hera,  think  not  thou  to  know  all  my  sayings;  hard  they  are 
for  thee,  even  though  thou  art  my  wife.  But  whichsoever  it  is 
seemly  for  thee  to  hear,  none  sooner  than  thou  shall  know,  be 
he  god  or  man.  Only  when  I  will  to  take  thought  aloof  from 
the  gods,  then  do  not  thou  ask  of  every  matter  nor  make 
question." 

Then  Hera  the  ox-eyed  queen  made  answer  to  him :  "Most 
dread  son  of  Kronos,  what  word  is  this  thou  hast  spoken? 
Yea,  surely  of  old  I  have  not  asked  thee  nor  made  question, 
but  in  very  quietness  thou  devisest  all  thou  wilt.  But  now  is 
my  heart  sore  afraid  lest  thou  have  been  won  over  by  silver- 
footed  Thetis,  daughter  of  the  Ancient  of  the  sea,  for  she  at 
early  morn  sat  by  thee  and  clasped  thy  knees.  To  her  I  deem 
thou  gavest  a  sure  pledge  that  thou  wilt  do  honour  to  Achilles, 
and  lay  many  low  beside  the  Achaians'  ships." 

To  her  made  answer  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer:  "Lady, 
Good  lack !  ever  art  thou  imagining,  nor  can  I  escape  thee ;  yet 
shalt  thou  in  no  wise  have  power  to  fulfil,  but  wilt  be  the  fur- 
ther from  my  heart ;  that  shall  be  even  the  worse  for  thee.    And 


46  HOMER 

if  it  be  so,  then  such  must  my  good  pleasure  be.  Abide  thou 
in  silence  and  hearken  to  my  bidding,  lest  all  the  gods  that  are 
in  Olympus  keep  not  off  from  thee  my  visitation,  when  I  put 
forth  my  hands  unapproachable  against  thee." 

He  said,  and  Hera  the  ox-eyed  queen  was  afraid,  and  sat 
in  silence,  curbing  her  heart ;  but  throughout  Zeus'  palace  the 
gods  of  heaven  were  troubled.  Then  Hephaistos  the  famed 
craftsman  began  to  make  harangue  among  them,  to  do  kind- 
ness to  his  dear  mother,  white-armed  Hera:  "Verily  this 
will  be  a  sorry  matter,  neither  any  more  endurable,  if  ye  twain 
thus  fight  for  mortals'  sakes,  and  bring  wrangling  among  the 
gods;  neither  will  there  any  more  be  joy  of  the  goodly  feast, 
seeing  that  evil  triumpheth.  So  I  give  counsel  to  my  mother, 
though  herself  is  wise,  to  do  kindness  to  our  dear  father  Zeus, 
that  our  father  upbraid  us  not  again  and  cast  the  banquet  in 
confusion.  What  if  the  Olympian,  the  lord  of  the  lightning, 
will  to  dash  us  from  our  seats !  for  he  is  strongest  far.  Nay, 
approach  thou  him  with  gentle  words,  then  will  the  Olympian 
forthwith  be  gracious  unto  us." 

So  speaking  he  rose  up  and  set  in  his  dear  mother's  hand 
the  two-handled  cup,  and  spake  to  her:  "Be  of  good  courage, 
mother  mine,  and  endure,  though  thou  art  vexed,  lest  I  behold 
thee,  that  art  so  dear,  chastised  before  mine  eyes,  and  then  shall 
I  not  be  able  for  all  my  sorrow  to  save  thee ;  for  the  Olympian 
is  a  hard  foe  to  face.  Yea,  once  ere  this,  when  I  was  fain  to 
save  thee,  he  caught  me  by  my  foot  and  hurled  me  from  the 
heavenly  threshold ;  all  day  I  flew,  and  at  the  set  of  sun  I  fell 
in  Lemnos,  and  little  life  was  in  me.  There  did  the  Sintian 
folk  forthwith  tend  me  for  my  fall." 

He  spake,  and  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  smiled,  and 
smiling  took  the  cup  at  her  son's  hand.  Then  he  poured  wine 
to  all  the  other  gods  from  right  to  left,  ladling  the  sweet  nectar 
from  the  bowl.  And  laughter  unquenchable  arose  amid  the 
blessed  gods  to  see  Hephaistos  bustling  through  the  palace. 

So  feasted  they  all  day  till  the  setting  of  the  sun ;  nor  was 
their  soul  aught  stinted  of  the  fair  banquet,  nor  of  the  beaute- 
ous lyre  that  Apollo  held,  and  the  Muses  singing  alternately 
with  sweet  voice. 

Now  when  the  bright  light  of  the  sun  was  set,  these  went 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   I  47 

each  to  his  own  house  to  sleep,  where  each  one  had  his  palace 
made  with  cunning  device  by  famed  Hephaistos  the  lame  god ; 
and  Zeus  the  Olympian,  the  lord  of  lightning,  departed  to  his 
couch  where  he  was  wont  of  old  to  take  his  rest,  whenever 
sweet  sleep  visited  him.  There  went  he  up  and  slept,  and 
beside  him  was  Hera  of  the  golden  throne. 


BOOK  II 

How  Zeus  beguiled  Agamemnon  by  a  dream ;  and  of  the  assembly 
of  the  Achaians  and  their  marching  forth  to  battle.  And  of  the 
names  and  numbers  of  the  hosts  of  the  Achaians  and  the  Trojans. 

Now  all  other  gods  and  chariot-driving  men  slept  all  night 
long,  only  Zeus  was  not  holden  of  sweet  sleep;  rather  was  he 
pondering  in  his  heart  how  he  should  do  honour  to  Achilles 
and  destroy  many  beside  the  Achaians'  ships.  And  this  de- 
sign seemed  to  his  mind  the  best,  to  wit,  to  send  a  baneful 
dream  upon  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus.  So  he  spake,  and 
uttered  to  him  winged  words:  "Come  now,  thou  baneful 
Dream,  go  to  the  Achaians'  fleet  ships,  enter  into  the  hut  of 
Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus,  and  tell  him  every  word  plainly  as 
I  charge  thee.  Bid  him  call  to  arms  the  flowing-haired  Achai- 
ans with  all  speed,  for  that  now  he  may  take  the  wide-wayed 
city  of  the  Trojans.  For  the  immortals  that  dwell  in  the  halls 
of  Olympus  are  no  longer  divided  in  counsel,  since  Hera  hath 
turned  the  minds  of  all  by  her  beseeching,  and  over  the  Tro- 
jans sorrows  hang." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  Dream  went  his  way  when  he  had 
heard  the  charge.  With  speed  he  came  to  the  Achaians'  fleet 
ships,  and  went  to  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus,  and  found  him 
sleeping  in  his  hut,  and  ambrosial  slumber  poured  over  him. 
So  he  stood  over  his  head  in  seeming  like  unto  the  son  of 
Neleus,  even  Nestor,  whom  most  of  all  the  elders  Agamemnon 
honoured ;  in  his  likeness  spake  to  him  the  heavenly  Dream : 

"Sleepest  thou,  son  of  wise  Atreus  tamer  of  horses?     To 


48  HOMER 

sleep  all  night  through  beseemeth  not  one  that  is  a  counsellor,  to 
whom  peoples  are  entrusted  and  so  many  cares  belong.  But 
now  hearken  straightway  to  me,  for  I  am  a  messenger  to  thee 
from  Zeus,  who  though  he  be  afar  yet  hath  great  care  for 
thee  and  pity.  He  biddeth  thee  call  to  arms  the  flowing-haired 
Achaians  with  all  speed,  for  that  now  thou  mayest  take  the 
wide-wayed  city  of  the  Trojans.  For  the  immortals  that 
dwell  in  the  halls  of  Olympus  are  no  longer  divided  in  counsel, 
since  Hera  hath  turned  the  minds  of  all  by  her  beseeching, 
and  over  the  Trojans  sorrows  hang  by  the  will  of  Zeus.  But 
^  do  thou  keep  this  in  thy  heart,  nor  let  forget  fulness  come  upon 
thee  when  honeyed  sleep  shall  leave  thee." 

So  spake  the  Dream,  and  departed  and  left  him  there, 
deeming  in  his  mind  things  that  were  not  to  be  fulfilled.  For- 
indeed  he  thought  to  take  Priam's  city  that  very  day;  fond 
man,  in  that  he  knew  not  the  plans  that  Zeus  had  in  mind, 
who  was  willed  to  bring  yet  more  grief  and  wailing  on 
Trojans  alike  and  Danaans  throughout  the  course  of  stubborn 
fights.  Then  woke  he  from  sleep,  and  the  heavenly  voice  was 
in  his  ears.  So  he  rose  up  sitting,  and  donned  his  soft  tunic, 
fair  and  bright,  and  cast  around  him  his  great  cloak,  and 
beneath  his  glistering  feet  he  bound  his  fair  sandals,  and  over 
his  shoulder  cast  his  silver-studded  sword,  and  grasped  his 
sires'  sceptre,  imperishable  for  ever,  wherewith  he  took  his 
way  amid  the  mail-clad  Achaian'  ships. 

Now  went  the  goddess  Dawn  to  high  Olympus,  foretelling 
daylight  to  Zeus  and  all  the  immortals;  and  the  king  bade  the 
clear-voiced  heralds  summon  to  the  assembly  the  flowing- 
haired  Achaians.  So  did  those  summon,  and  these  gathered 
with  speed. 

But  first  the  council  of  the  great-hearted  elders  met  beside 
the  ship  of  king  Nestor  the  Pylos-born.  And  he  that  had 
assembled  them  framed  his  cunning  counsel:  "Hearken,  my 
friends.  A  dream  from  heaven  came  to  me  in  my  sleep 
through  the  ambrosial  night,  and  chiefly  to  goodly  Nestor  was 
very  like  in  shape  and  bulk  and  stature.  And  it  stood  over 
my  head  and  charged  me  saying:  'Sleepest  thou,  son  of  wise 
Atreus  tamer  of  horses  ?  To  sleep  all  night  through  beseemeth 
not  one  that  is  a  counsellor,  to  whom  peoples  are  entrusted  and 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    II  49 

so  many  cares  belong.  But  now  hearken  straighvvay  to  me, 
for  I  am  a  messenger  to  thee  from  Zeus,  who  though  he  be 
afar  yet  hath  great  care  for  thee  and  pity.  He  biddeth  thee 
call  to  arms  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  with  all  speed,  for 
that  now  thou  mayest  take  the  wide-wayed  city  of  the  Tro- 
jans, For  the  immortals  that  dwell  in  the  palaces  of  Olympus 
are  no  longer  divided  in  counsel,  since  Hera  hath  turned  the 
minds  of  all  by  her  beseeching,  and  over  the  Trojans  sor- 
rows hang  by  the  will  of  Zeus.  But  keep  thou  this  in  thy 
heart.'  So  spake  the  dream  and  was  flown  away,  and  sweet 
sleep  left  me.  So  come,  let  us  now  call  to  arms  as  we  may  the 
sons  of  the  Achaians.  But  first  I  will  speak  to  make  trial  of 
them  as  is  fitting,  and  will  bid  them  flee  with  their  benched 
ships ;  only  do  ye  from  this  side  and  from  that  speak  to  hold 
them  back." 

So  spake  he  and  sate  him  down ;  and  there  stood  up  among 
them  Nestor,  who  was  king  of  sandy  Pylos.  He  of  good  in- 
tent made  harangue  to  them  and  said :  "  My  friends,  cap- 
tains and  rulers  of  the  Argives,  had  any  other  of  the  Achaians 
told  us  this  dream  we  might  deem  it  a  false  thing,  and  rather 
turn  away  therefrom;  but  now  he  hath  seen  it  who  of  all 
Achaians  avoweth  himself  far  greatest.  So  come,  let  us  call 
to  arms  as  we  may  the  sons  of  the  Achaians." 

So  spake  he,  and  led  the  way  forth  from  the  council,  and 
all  the  other  sceptred  chiefs  rose  with  him  and  obeyed  the 
shepherd  of  the  host ;  and  the  people  hastened  to  them.  Even 
as  when  the  tribes  of  thronging  bees  issue  from  some  hollow 
rock,  ever  in  fresh  procession,  and  fly  clustering  among  the 
flowers  of  spring,  and  some  on  this  hand  and  some  on  that 
fly  thick;  even  so  from  ships  and  huts  before  the  low  beach 
marched  forth  their  many  tribes  by  companies  to  the  place 
of  assembly.  And  in  their  midst  blazed  forth  Rumour,  mes- 
senger of  Zeus,  urging  them  to  go ;  and  so  they  gathered.  And 
the  place  of  assemblage  was  in  an  uproar,  and  the  earth  echoed 
again  as  the  hosts  sate  them  down,  and  there  was  turmoil. 
Nine  heralds  restrained  them  with  shouting,  if  perchance  they 
might  refrain  from  clamour,  and  hearken  to  their  kings,  the 
fosterlings  of  Zeus.  And  hardly  at  the  last  would  the  people 
sit,  and  keep  them  to  their  benches  and  cease  from  noise. 


50  HOMER 

Then  stood  up  lord  Agamemnon  bearing  his  sceptre,  that 
Hephaistos  had  wrought  curiously.  Hephaistos  gave  it  to 
king  Zeus,  son  of  Kronos,  and  then  Zeus  gave  it  to  the  mes- 
senger-god the  slayer  of  Argus;  and  king  Hermes  gave  it  to 
Pelops  the  charioteer,  and  Pelops  again  gave  it  to  Atreus  shep- 
herd of  the  host.  And  Atreus  dying  left  it  to  Thyestes  rich 
in  flocks,  and  Thyestes  in  his  turn  left  it  to  Agamemnon  to 
bear,  that  over  many  islands  and  all  Argos  he  should  be  lord. 
Thereon  he  leaned  and  spake  his  saying  to  the  Argives : 

"My  friends,  Danaan  warriors,  men  of  Ares'  company, 
Zeus  Kronos'  son  hath  bound  me  with  might  in  grievous  blind- 
ness of  soul ;  hard  of  heart  is  he,  for  that  erewhile  he  promised 
me  and  pledged  his  nod  that  not  till  I  had  wasted  well-walled 
Ilios  should  I  return;  but  now  see  I  that  he  planned  a  cruel 
wile  and  biddeth  me  return  to  Argos  dishonoured,  with  the 
loss  of  many  of  my  folk.  So  meseems  it  pleaseth  most  mighty 
Zeus,  who  hath  laid  low  the  head  of  many  a  city,  yea,  and 
shall  lay  low;  for  his  is  highest  power.  Shame  is  this  even 
for  them  that  come  after  to  hear ;  how  so  goodly  and  great  a 
folk  of  the  Achaians  thus  vainly  warred  a  bootless  war,  and 
fought  scantier  enemies,  and  no  end  thereof  is  yet  seen.  For 
if,  perchance,  we  were  minded,  both  Achaians  and  Trojans,  to 
swear  a  solemn  truce,  and  to  number  ourselves,  and  if  the  Tro- 
jans should  gather  together  all  that  have  their  dwellings  in 
the  city,  and  we  Achaians  should  marshal  ourselves  by  tens, 
and  every  company  choose  a  Trojan  to  pour  their  wine,  then 
would  many  tens  lack  a  cup-bearer:  so  much,  I  say,  do  the 
sons  of  the  Achaians  outnumber  the  Trojans  that  dwell  within 
the  city.  But  allies  from  many  cities,  even  warriors  that 
wield  the  spear,  are  therein,  and  they  hinder  me  perforce,  and 
for  all  my  will  suffer  me  not  to  waste  the  populous  citadel  of 
Ilios.  Already  have  nine  years  of  great  Zeus  passed  away, 
and  our  ships'  timbers  have  rotted  and  the  tackling  is  loosed; 
while  there  our  wives  and  little  children  sit  in  our  halls  await- 
ing us;  yet  is  our  task  utterly  unaccomplished  wherefor  we 
came  hither.  So  come,  even  as  I  shall  bid  let  us  all  obey. 
Let  us  flee  with  our  ships  to  our  dear  native  land;  for  now 
shall  we  never  take  wide-wayed  Troy." 

So  spake  he,  and  stirred  the  spirit  in  the  breasts  of  all 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  51 

throughout  the  multitude,  as  many  as  had  not  heard  the  coun- 
cil. And  the  assembly  swayed  like  high  sea-waves  of  the  Icar- 
ian  Main  that  east  wind  and  south  wind  raise,  rushing  upon 
them  from  the  clouds  of  father  Zeus;  and  even  as  when  the 
west  wind  cometh  to  stir  a  deep  cornfield  with  violent  blast,  and 
the  ears  bow  down,  so  was  all  the  assembly  stirred,  and  they 
with  shouting  hasted  toward  the  ships ;  and  the  dust  from  be- 
neath their  feet  rose  and  stood  on  high.  And  they  bade  each 
man  his  neighbour  to  seize  the  ships  and  drag  them  into  the 
bright  salt  sea,  and  cleared  out  the  launching-ways,  and  the 
noise  went  up  to  heaven  of  their  hurrying  homewards;  and 
they  began  to  take  the  props  from  beneath  the  ships. 

Then  would  the  Argives  have  accomplished  their  return 
against  the  will  of  fate,  but  that  Hera  spake  a  word  to  Athene : 
"Out  on  it,  daughter  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  unwearied  maiden! 
Shall  the  Argives  thus  indeed  flee  homeward  to  their  dear  na- 
tive land  over  the  sea's  broad  back?  But  they  would  leave  to 
Priam  and  the  Trojans  their  boast,  even  Helen  of  Argos,  for 
whose  sake  many  an  Achaian  hath  perished  in  Troy,  far  away 
from  his  dear  native  land.  But  go  thou  now  amid  the  host 
of  the  mail-clad  Achaians ;  with  thy  gentle  words  refrain  thou 
every  man,  neither  suffer  them  to  draw  their  curved  ships 
down  to  the  salt  sea." 

So  spake  she,  and  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  disre* 
garded  not;  but  went  darting  down  from  the  peaks  of  Olym- 
pus, and  came  with  speed  to  the  fleet  ships  of  the  Achaians. 
There  found  she  Odysseus  standing,  peer  of  Zeus  in  counsel, 
neither  laid  he  any  hand  upon  his  decked  black  ship,  because 
grief  had  entered  into  his  heart  and  soul.  And  bright-eyed 
Athene  stood  by  him  and  said :  "Heaven-sprung  son  of  Laertes, 
Odysseus  of  many  devices,  will  ye  indeed  fling  yourselves  upon 
your  benched  ships  to  flee  homeward  to  your  dear  native  land  ? 
But  ye  would  leave  to  Priam  and  the  Trojans  their  boast,  even 
Helen  of  Argos,  for  whose  sake  many  an  Achaian  hath  per- 
ished in  Troy,  far  from  his  dear  native  land.  But  go  thou 
now  amid  the  host  of  the  Achaians,  and  tarry  not;  and  with 
thy  gentle  words  refrain  every  man,  neither  suffer  them  to 
draw  their  curved  ships  down  to  the  salt  sea." 

So  said  she,  and  he  knew  the  voice  of  the  goddess  speaking 


52  HOMER 

to  him,  and  set  him  to  run,  and  cast  away  his  mantle,  the  which 
his  herald  gathered  up,  even  Eury bates  of  Ithaca,  that  waited 
on  him.  And  himself  he  went  to  meet  Agamemnon  son  of 
Atreus,  and  at  his  hand  received  the  sceptre  of  his  sires,  im- 
perishable for  ever,  wherewith  he  took  his  way  amid  the  ships 
of  the  mail-clad  Achaians. 

Whenever  he  found  one  that  was  a  captain  and  a  man  of 
mark,  he  stood  by  his  side,  and  refrained  him  with  gentle 
words:  "Good  sir,  it  is  not  seemly  to  affright  thee  like  a 
coward,  but  do  thou  sit  thyself  and  make  all  thy  folk  sit  down. 
For  thou  knowest  not  yet  clearly  what  is  the  purpose  of  Atreus' 
son ;  now  is  he  but  making  trial,  and  soon  he  will  afflict  the  sons 
of  the  Achaians.  And  heard  we  not  all  of  us  what  he  spake  in 
the  council?  Beware  lest  in  his  anger  he  evilly  entreat  the 
sons  of  the  Achaians.  For  proud  is  the  soul  of  Heaven-fostered 
kings ;  because  their  honour  is  of  Zeus,  and  the  god  of  counsel 
loveth  them." 

But  whatever  man  of  the  people  he  saw  and  found  him 
shouting,  him  he  drave  with  his  sceptre  and  chode  him  with 
loud  words:  "Good  sir,  sit  still  and  hearken  to  the  words  of 
others  that  are  thy  betters;  but  thou  art  no  warrior,  and  a 
weakling,  never  reckoned  whether  in  battle  or  in  council.  In 
no  wise  can  we  Achaians  all  be  kings  here.  A  multitude  of 
masters  is  no  good  thing ;  let  there  be  one  master,  one  king,  to 
whom  the  son  of  crooked-counselling  Kronos  hath  granted  it, 
even  the  sceptre  and  judgments,  that  he  may  rule  among  you." 

So  masterfully  ranged  he  the  host ;  and  they  hasted  back 
to  the  assembly  from  ships  and  huts,  with  noise  as  when  a 
wave  of  the  loud-sounding  sea  roareth  on  the  long  beach  and 
the  main  resoundeth. 

Now  all  the  rest  sat  down  and  kept  their  place  upon  the 
benches,  only  Thersites  still  chattered  on,  the  uncontrolled  of 
speech,  whose  mind  was  full  of  words  many  and  disorderly, 
wherewith  to  strive  against  the  chiefs  idly  and  in  no  good  or- 
der, but  even  as  he  deemed  that  he  should  make  the  Argives 
laugh.  And  he  was  ill-favoured  beyond  all  men  that  came  to 
Ilios.  Bandy-legged  was  he,  and  lame  of  one  foot,  and  his 
two  shoulders  rounded,  arched  down  upon  his  chest ;  and  over 
them  his  head  was  warped,  and  a  scanty  stubble  sprouted  on  it. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  53 

Hateful  was  he  to  Achilles  above  all  and  to  Odysseus,  for  them 
he  was  wont  to  revile.  But  now  with  shrill  shout  he  poured 
forth  his  upbraidings  upon  goodly  Agamemnon.  With  him 
the  Achaians  were  sore  vexed  and  had  indignation  in  their 
souls.  But  he  with  loud  shout  spake  and  reviled  Agamemnon : 
"Atreides,  for  what  art  thou  now  ill  content  and  lacking? 
Surely  thy  huts  are  full  of  bronze  and  many  women  are  in  thy 
huts,  the  chosen  spoils  that  we  Achaians  give  thee  first  of  all, 
whene'er  we  take  a  town.  Can  it  be  that  thou  yet  wantest  gold 
as  well,  such  as  some  one  of  the  horse-taming  Trojans  may 
bring  from  Ilios  to  ransom  his  son,  whom  I  perchance  or  some 
other  Achaian  have  led  captive;  or  else  some  young  girl,  to 
know  in  love,  whom  thou  mayest  keep  apart  to  thyself  ?  But  it 
is  not  seemly  for  one  that  is  their  captain  to  bring  the  sons  of 
the  Achaians  to  ill.  Soft  fools,  base  things  of  shame,  ye 
women  of  Achaia  and  men  no  more,  let  us  depart  home  with 
our  ships,  and  leave  this  fellow  here  in  Troy-land  to  gorge 
him  with  meeds  of  honour,  that  he  may  see  whether  our  aid 
avail  him  aught  or  no ;  even  he  that  hath  now  done  dishonour 
to  Achilles,  a  far  better  man  than  he ;  for  he  hath  taken  away 
his  meed  of  honour  and  keepeth  it  by  his  own  violent  deed.  Of 
a  very  surety  is  there  no  wrath  at  all  in  Achilles'  mind,  but  he 
is  slack;  else  this  despite,  thou  son  of  Atreus,  were  thy  last." 
So  spake  Thersites,  reviling  Agamemnon  shepherd  of  the 
host.  But  goodly  Odysseus  came  straight  to  his  side,  and  look- 
ing sternly  at  him  with  hard  words  rebuked  him:  "Thersites, 
reckless  in  words,  shrill  orator  though  thou  art,  refrain  thyself, 
nor  aim  to  strive  singly  against  kings.  For  I  deem  that  no 
mortal  is  baser  than  thou  of  all  that  with  the  sons  of  Atreus 
came  before  Ilios.  Therefore  were  it  well  that  thou  shouldest 
not  have  kings  in  thy  mouth  as  thou  talkest,  and  utter  revilings 
against  them  and  be  on  the  watch  for  departure.  We  know 
not  yet  clearly  how  these  things  shall  be,  whether  we  sons  of 
the  Achaians  shall  return  for  good  or  for  ill.  Therefore  now 
dost  thou  revile  continually  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus,  shep- 
herd of  the  host,  because  the  Danaan  warriors  give  him 
many  gifts,  and  so  thou  talkest  tauntingly.  But  I  will  tell  thee 
plain,  and  that  I  say  shall  even  be  brought  to  pass:  if  I  find 
thee  again  raving  as  now  thou  art,  then  may  Odysseus'  head 


54  HOMER 

no  longer  abide  upon  his  shoulders,  nor  may  I  any  more  be 
called  father  of  Telemachos,  if  I  take  thee  not  and  strip  from 
thee  thy  garments,  thy  mantle  and  tunic  that  cover  thy  naked- 
ness, and  for  thyself  send  thee  weeping  to  the  fleet  ships,  and 
beat  thee  out  of  the  assembly  with  shameful  blows." 

So  spake  he,  and  with  his  staff  smote  his  back  and  shoul- 
ders :  and  he  bowed  down  and  a  big  tear  fell  from  him,  and  a 
bloody  weal  stood  up  from  his  back  beneath  the  golden  sceptre. 
Then  he  sat  down  and  was  amazed,  and  in  pain  with  helpless 
look  wiped  away  the  tear.  But  the  rest,  though  they  were  sor- 
ry, laughed  lightly  at  him,  and  thus  would  one  speak  looking  at 
another  standing  by :  "Go  to,  of  a  truth  Odysseus  hath  wrought 
good  deeds  without  number  ere  now,  standing  foremost  in  wise 
counsels  and  setting  battle  in  array,  but  now  is  this  thing  the 
best  by  far  that  he  hath  wrought  among  the  Argives,  to  wit, 
that  he  hath  stayed  this  prating  railer  from  his  harangues. 
Never  again,  forsooth,  will  his  proud  soul  henceforth  bid  him 
revile  the  kings  with  slanderous  words." 

So  said  the  common  sort;  but  up  rose  Odysseus  waster  of 
cities,  with  the  sceptre  in  his  hand.  And  by  his  side  bright- 
eyed  Athene  in  the  likeness  of  a  herald  bade  the  multitude  keep 
silence,  that  the  sons  of  the  Achaians,  both  the  nearest  and  the 
farthest,  might  hear  his  words  together  and  give  heed  to  his 
counsel.  He  of  good  intent  made  harangue  to  them  and  said : 
"Atreides,  now  surely  are  the  Achaians  for  making  thee,  O 
king,  most  despised  among  all  mortal  men,  nor  will  they  fulfil 
the  promise  that  they  pledged  thee  when  they  still  were  march- 
ing hither  from  horse-pasturing  Argos;  that  thou  shouldest 
not  return  till  thou  hadst  laid  well-walled  Ilios  waste.  For  like 
young  children  or  widow  women  do  they  wail  each  to  the 
other  of  returning  home.  Yea,  here  is  toil  to  make  a  man  de- 
part disheartened.  For  he  that  stayeth  away  but  one  single 
month  far  from  his  wife  in  his  benched  ship  fretteth  himself 
when  winter  storms  and  the  furious  sea  imprison  him ;  but  for 
us,  the  ninth  year  of  our  stay  here  is  upon  us  in  its  course. 
Therefore  do  I  not  marvel  that  the  Achaians  should  fret  beside 
their  beaked  ships ;  yet  nevertheless  is  it  shameful  to  wait 
long  and  to  depart  empty.  Be  of  good  heart,  my  friends,  and 
wait  a  while,  until  we  learn  whether  Kalchas  be  a  true  prophet 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  55 

or  no.  For  this  thing  verily  we  know  well  in  our  hearts,  and 
ye  all  are  witnesses  thereof,  even  as  many  as  the  fates  of  death 
have  not  borne  away.  It  was  as  it  were  but  yesterday  or  the 
day  before  that  the  Achaians'  ships  were  gathering  in  Aulis, 
freighted  with  trouble  for  Priam  and  the  Trojans;  and  we 
round  about  a  spring  were  offering  on  the  holy  altars  unblem- 
ished hecatombs  to  the  immortals,  beneath  a  fair  plane-tree 
whence  flowed  bright  water,  when  there  was  seen  a  great  por- 
tent :  a  snake  blood-red  on  the  back,  terrible,  whom  the  god  of 
Olympus  himself  had  sent  forth  to  the  light  of  day,  sprang 
from  beneath  the  altar  and  darted  to  the  plane-tree.  Now 
there  were  there  the  brood  of  a  sparrow,  tender  little  ones, 
upon  the  topmost  branch,  nestling  beneath  the  leaves;  eight 
were  they  and  the  mother  of  the  little  ones  was  the  ninth,  and 
the  snake  swallowed  these  cheeping  pitifully.  And  the  mother 
fluttered  around  waihng  for  her  dear  little  ones ;  but  he  coiled 
himself  and  caught  her  by  the  wing  as  she  screamed  about  him. 
Now  when  he  had  swallowed  the  sparrow's  little  ones  and  the 
mother  with  them,  the  god  who  revealed  him  made  of  him  a 
sign ;  for  the  son  of  crooked-counselling  Kronos  turned  him  to 
stone,  and  we  stood  by  and  marvelled  to  see  what  was  done. 
So  when  the  dread  portent  brake  in  upon  the  hecatombs  of  the 
gods,  then  did  Kalchas  forthwith  prophesy,  and  said:  *Why 
hold  ye  your  peace,  ye  flowing-haired  Achaians?  To  us  hath 
Zeus  the  counsellor  shown  this  great  sign,  late  come,  of  late 
fulfilment,  the  fame  whereof  shall  never  perish.  Even  as  he 
swallowed  the  sparrow's  little  ones  and  herself,  the  eight 
wherewith  the  mother  that  bare  the  Httle  ones  was  the  ninth, 
so  shall  we  war  there  so  many  years,  but  in  the  tenth  year 
shall  we  take  the  wide-wayed  city.'  So  spake  the  seer;  and 
now  are  all  these  things  being  fulfilled.  So  come,  abide  ye  all, 
ye  well-greaved  Achaians,  even  where  ye  are,  until  we  have 
taken  the  great  city  of  Priam." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  Argives  shouted  aloud,  and  all  round 
the  ships  echoed  terribly  to  the  voice  of  the  Achaians  as  they 
praised  the  saying  of  god-like  Odysseus.  And  then  spake 
among  them  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia:  "Out  on  it;  in  very 
truth  ye  hold  assembly  like  silly  boys  that  have  no  care  for 
deeds  of  war.     What  shall  come  of  our  covenants  and  our 


56  HOMER 

oaths?  Let  all  counsels  be  cast  into  the  fire  and  all  devices 
of  warriors  and  the  pure  drink-offerings  and  the  right  hands 
of  fellowship  wherein  we  trusted.  For  we  are  vainly  striving 
with  words  nor  can  we  find  any  device  at  all,  for  all  our  long 
tarrying  here.  Son  of  Atreus,  do  thou  still,  as  erst,  keep  stead- 
fast purpose  and  lead  the  Argives  amid  the  violent  fray;  and 
for  these,  let  them  perish,  the  one  or  two  Achaians  that  take 
secret  counsel — though  fulfilment  shall  not  come  thereof — to 
depart  to  Argos  first,  before  they  know  whether  the  promise 
of  aegis-bearing  Zeus  be  a  lie  or  no.  Yea,  for  I  say  that  most 
mighty  Kronion  pledged  us  his  word  that  day  when  the  Ar- 
gives embarked  upon  their  fleet  ships,  bearing  unto  the  Tro- 
jans death  and  fate;  for  by  his  lightning  upon  our  right  he 
manifested  signs  of  good.  Therefore  let  no  man  hasten  to 
depart  home  till  each  have  lain  by  some  Trojan's  wife  and  paid 
back  his  strivings  and  groans  for  Helen's  sake.  But  if  any 
man  is  overmuch  desirous  to  depart  homewards,  let  him  lay 
his  hand  upon  his  decked  black  ship,  that  before  all  men  he  may 
encounter  death  and  fate.  But  do  thou,  my  king,  take  good 
counsel  thyself,  and  hearken  to  another  that  shall  give  it;  the 
word  that  I  speak,  whate'er  it  be,  shall  not  be  cast  away.  Sep- 
arate thy  warriors  by  tribes  and  by  clans,  Agamemnon,  that 
clan  may  give  aid  to  clan  and  tribe  to  tribe.  If  thou  do  thus 
and  the  Achaians  hearken  to  thee,  then  wilt  thou  know  who 
among  thy  captains  and  who  of  the  common  sort  is  a  coward, 
and  who  too  is  brave ;  for  they  will  fight  each  after  their  sort. 
So  wilt  thou  know  whether  it  is  even  by  divine  command  that 
thou  shalt  not  take  the  city,  or  by  the  baseness  of  thy  war- 
riors and  their  ill  skill  in  battle." 

And  lord  Agamemnon  answered  and  said  to  him :  "Verily 
hast  thou  again  outdone  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  in  speech, 
old  man.  Ah,  father  Zeus  and  Athene  and  Apollo,  would  that 
among  the  Achaians  I  had  ten  such  councillors ;  then  would  the 
city  of  king  Priam  soon  bow  beneath  our  hands,  captive  and 
wasted.  But  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  the  son  of  Kronos,  hath 
brought  sorrows  upon  me,  in  that  he  casteth  my  lot  amid  fruit- 
less wranglings  and  strifes.  For  in  truth  I  and  Achilles  fought 
about  a  damsel  with  violent  words,  and  I  was  first  to  be  angry ; 
but  if  we  can  only  be  at  one  in  council,  then  will  there  no  more 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  57 

be  any  putting  off  the  day  of  evil  for  the  Trojans,  no  not  for 
an  instant.  But  now  go  ye  to  your  meal  that  we  may  join 
battle.  Let  each  man  sharpen  well  his  spear  and  bestow  well 
his  shield,  and  let  him  well  give  his  fleet-footed  steeds  their 
meal,  and  look  well  to  his  chariot  on  every  side  and  take 
thought  for  battle,  that  all  day  long  we  may  contend  in  hateful 
war.  For  of  respite  shall  there  intervene  no,  not  a  whit,  only 
that  the  coming  of  night  shall  part  the  fury  of  warriors.  On 
each  man's  breast  shall  the  baldrick  of  his  covering  shield  be 
wet  with  sweat,  and  his  hand  shall  grow  faint  about  the  spear, 
and  each  man's  horse  shall  sweat  as  he  draweth  the  polished 
chariot.  And  whomsoever  I  perceive  minded  to  tarry  far  from 
the  fight  beside  the  beaked  ships,  for  him  shall  there  be  no  hope 
hereafter  to  escape  the  dogs  and  birds  of  prey." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  Argives  shouted  aloud,  Hke  to  a  wave 
on  a  steep  shore,  when  the  south  wind  cometh  and  stirreth  it ; 
even  on  a  jutting  rock,  that  is  never  left  at  peace  by  the  waves 
of  all  winds  that  rise  from  this  side  and  from  that.  And  they 
stood  up  and  scattered  in  haste  throughout  the  ships,  and  made 
fires  in  the  huts  and  took  their  meal.  And  they  did  sacrifice 
each  man  to  one  of  the  everlasting  gods,  praying  for  escape 
from  death  and  the  tumult  of  battle.  But  Agamemnon  king 
of  men  slew  a  fat  bull  of  five  years  to  most  mighty  Kronion, 
and  called  the  elders,  the  princes  of  the  Achaian  host,  Nestor 
first  and  king  Idomeneus,  and  then  the  two  Aiantes  and  Tyd- 
eus'  son,  and  sixthly  Odysseus  peer  of  Zeus  in  counsel.  And 
Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  came  to  him  unbidden,  for  he 
knew  in  his  heart  how  his  brother  toiled.  Then  stood  they 
around  the  bull  and  took  the  barley-meal.  And  Agamemnon 
made  his  prayer  in  their  midst  and  said:  "Zeus,  most  glori- 
ous, most  great,  god  of  the  storm-cloud,  that  dwellest  in  the 
heaven,  vouchsafe  that  the  sun  set  not  upon  us  nor  the  dark- 
ness come  near,  till  I  have  laid  low  upon  the  earth  Priam's 
palace  smirched  with  smoke,  and  burnt  the  doorways  thereof 
with  consuming  fire,  and  rent  on  Hector's  breast  his  doublet 
cleft  with  the  blade;  and  about  him  may  full  many  of  his 
comrades  prone  in  the  dust  bite  the  earth." 

So  spake  he,  but  not  as  yet  would  Kronion  grant  him  ful- 


58  HOMER 

filment;  he  accepted  the  sacrifice,  but  made  toil  to  wax 
unceasingly. 

Now  when  they  had  prayed  and  sprinkled  the  barley-meal 
they  first  drew  back  the  bull's  head  and  cut  his  throat  and 
flayed  him,  and  cut  slices  from  the  thighs  and  wrapped  them  in 
fat,  making  a  double  fold,  and  laid  raw  collops  thereon.  And 
these  they  burnt  on  cleft  wood  stript  of  leaves,  and  spitted  the 
vitals  and  held  them  over  Hephaistos'  flame.  Now  when  the 
thighs  were  burnt  and  they  had  tasted  the  vitals,  then  sliced 
they  all  the  rest  and  pierced  it  through  with  spits,  and  roasted 
it  carefully  and  drew  all  off  again.  So  when  they  had  rest 
from  the  task  and  had  made  ready  the  banquet,  they  feasted, 
nor  was  their  heart  aught  stinted  of  the  fair  banquet.  But 
when  they  had  put  away  from  them  the  desire  of  meat  and 
drink,  then  did  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  open  his  saying  to 
them:  "Most  noble  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men, 
let  us  not  any  more  hold  long  converse  here,  nor  for  long  de- 
lay the  work  that  God  putteth  in  our  hands ;  but  come,  let  the 
heralds  of  the  mail-clad  Achaians  make  proclamation  to  the 
folk  and  gather  them  throughout  the  ships ;  and  let  us  go  thus 
in  concert  through  the  wide  host  of  the  Achaians,  that  the 
speedier  we  may  arouse  keen  war." 

So  spake  he  and  Agamemnon  king  of  men  disregarded  not. 
Straightway  he  bade  the  clear-voiced  heralds  summon  to  battle 
the  flowing-haired  Achaians.  So  those  summoned  and  these 
gathered  with  all  speed.  And  the  kings,  the  fosterlings  of 
Zeus  that  were  about  Atreus'  son,  eagerly  marshalled  them, 
and  bright-eyed  Athene  in  the  midst,  bearing  the  holy  aegis 
that  knoweth  neither  age  nor  death,  whereon  wave  an  hundred 
tassels  of  pure  gold,  all  deftly  woven  and  each  one  an  hundred 
oxen  worth.  Therewith  she  passed  dazzling  through  the  Acha- 
ian  folk,  urging  them  forth;  and  in  every  man's  heart  she 
roused  strength  to  battle  without  ceasing  and  to  fight.  So  was 
war  made  sweeter  to  them  than  to  depart  in  their  hollow  ships 
to  their  dear  native  land.  Even  as  ravaging  fire  kindleth  a 
boundless  forest  on  a  mountain's  peaks,  and  the  blaze  is  seen 
from  afar,  even  so  as  they  marched  went  the  dazzling  gleam 
from  the  innumerable  bronze  through  the  sky  even  unto  the 
heavens. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    II  59 

And  as  the  many  tribes  of  feathered  birds,  wild  geese  or 
cranes  or  long-necked  swans,  on  the  Asian  mead  by  Kays- 
trios'  stream,  fly  hither  and  thither  jojnng  in  their  plumage, 
and  with  loud  cries  settle  ever  onwards,  and  the  mead  re- 
sounds; even  so  poured  forth  the  many  tribes  of  warriors 
from  ships  and  huts  into  the  Skamandrian  plain.  And  the 
earth  echoed  terribly  beneath  the  tread  of  men  and  horses. 
So  stood  they  in  the  flowery  Skamandrian  plain,  unnumbered 
as  are  leaves  and  flowers  in  their  season.  Even  as  the  many 
tribes  of  thick  flies  that  hover  about  a  herdsman's  steading  in 
the  spring  season,  when  milk  drencheth  the  pails,  even  in  like 
number  stood  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  upon  the  plain  in 
face  of  the  Trojans,  eager  to  rend  them  asunder.  And  even 
as  the  goatherds  easily  divide  the  ranging  flocks  of  goats  when 
they  mingle  in  the  pasture,  so  did  their  captains  marshal  them 
on  this  side  and  on  that,  to  enter  into  the  fray,  and  in  their 
midst  lord  Agamemnon,  his  head  and  eyes  like  unto  Zeus 
whose  joy  is  in  the  thunder,  and  his  waist  like  unto  Ares  and 
his  breast  unto  Poseidon.  Even  as  a  bull  standeth  out  far 
foremost  amid  the  herd,  for  he  is  pre-eminent  amid  the  pastur- 
ing kine,  even  such  did  Zeus  make  Atreides  on  that  day,  pre- 
eminent among  many  and  chief  amid  heroes. 

Tell  me  now,  ye  Muses  that  dwell  in  the  mansions  of  Olym- 
pus— seeing  that  ye  are  goddesses  and  are  at  hand  and  know 
all  things,  but  we  hear  only  a  rumour  and  know  not  anything 
— who  were  the  captains  of  the  Danaans  and  their  lords  ?  But 
the  common  sort  could  I  not  number  nor  name,  nay,  not  if  ten 
tongues  were  mine  and  ten  mouths,  and  a  voice  unwearied,  and 
my  heart  of  bronze  within  me,  did  not  the  Muses  of  Olympus, 
daughters  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  put  into  my  mind  all  that 
came  to  Ilios.  So  will  I  tell  the  captains  of  the  ships  and  all 
the  ships  in  order. 

Of  the  Boiotians  Peneleos  and  Leitos  were  captains,  and 
Arkesilaos  and  Prothoenor  and  Klonios;  these  were  they  that 
dwelt  in  Hyria  and  rocky  Aulis  and  Schoinos  and  Skolos  and 
Eteonos  full  of  ridges,  Thespeia  and  Graia  and  Mykalessos 
with  wide  lawns;  and  that  dwelt  about  Harma  and  Eilesion 
and  Erythrai,  and  they  that  possessed  Eleon  and  Peteon  and 
Hyle,  Okalea  and  the  stablished  fortress  of  Medeon,  Kopai 


60  HOMER 

and  Eutresis  and  Thisbe  haunt  of  doves ;  and  they  of  Koroneia 
and  grassy  Haliartos,  and  that  possessed  Plataia  and  that  dwelt 
in  GHsas,  and  that  possessed  the  stabhshed  fortress  of  lesser 
Thebes  and  holy  Onchestos,  Poseidon's  bright  grove;  and  that 
possessed  Arne  rich  in  vineyards,  and  Mideia  and  sacred  Nisa 
and  Anthedon  on  the  furthest  borders.  Of  these  there  came 
fifty  ships,  and  in  each  one  embarked  young  men  of  the  Boio- 
tians  an  hundred  and  twenty.  And  they  that  dwelt  in  Asple- 
don  and  Orchomenos  of  the  Minyai  were  led  of  Askalaphos 
and  lalmenos,  sons  of  Ares,  whom  Astyoche  conceived  of  the 
mighty  god  in  the  palace  of  Aktor  son  of  Azeus,  having  en- 
tered her  upper  chamber,  a  stately  maiden ;  for  mighty  Ares  lay 
with  her  privily.    And  with  them  sailed  thirty  hollow  ships. 

And  the  Phokians  were  led  of  Schedios  and  Epistrophos, 
sons  of  great-hearted  Iphitos  son  of  Naubolos;  these  were  they 
that  possessed  Kyparissos  and  rocky  Pytho  and  sacred  Krisa 
and  Daulis  and  Panopeus,  and  they  that  dwelt  about  Anemo- 
reia  and  Hyampolis,  yea,  and  they  that  lived  by  the  goodly 
river  Kephisos  and  possessed  Lilaia  by  Kephisos'  springs.  And 
with  them  followed  forty  black  ships.  So  they  marshalled  the 
ranks  of  the  Phokians  diligently,  and  had  their  station  hard  by 
the  Boiotians  on  the  left. 

And  of  the  Lokrians  the  fleet  son  of  Oileus  was  captain, 
Aias  the  less,  that  was  not  so  great  as  was  the  Telamonian  Aias 
but  far  less.  Small  was  he,  with  linen  corslet,  but  with  the 
spear  he  far  outdid  all  the  Hellenes  and  Achaians.  These  were 
they  that  dwelt  in  Kynos  and  Opus  and  Kalliaros  and  Bessa  and 
Skarphe  and  lovely  Augeiai  and  Tarphe  and  Thronion,  about 
the  streams  of  Boagrios.  And  with  Aias  followed  forty  black 
ships  of  the  Lokrians  that  dwell  over  against  holy  Euboia. 

And  the  Abantes  breathing  fury,  they  that  possessed  Eu- 
boia and  Chalkis  and  Eiretria  and  Histiaia  rich  in  vines,  and 
Kerinthos  by  the  sea  and  the  steep  fortress  of  Dios,  and  they 
that  possessed  Karystos,  and  they  that  dwelt  in  Styra,  all  these 
again  were  led  of  Elephenor  of  the  stock  of  Ares,  even  the  son 
of  Chalkodon,  and  captain  of  the  proud  Abantes.  And  with 
him  followed  the  fleet  Abantes  with  hair  flowing  behind,  spear- 
men eager  with  ashen  shafts  outstretched  to  tear  the  corslets  on 
the  breasts  of  the  foes.    And  with  him  forty  black  ships  followed. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  61 

And  they  that  possessed  the  goodly  citadel  of  Athens,  the 
domain  of  Erechtheus  the  high-hearted,  whom  erst  Athene 
daughter  of  Zeus  fostered  when  Earth,  the  grain-giver, 
brought  him  to  birth; — and  she  gave  him  a  resting-place  in 
Athens  in  her  own  rich  sanctuary;  and  there  the  sons  of  the 
Athenians  worship  him  with  bulls  and  rams  as  the  years  turn 
in  their  courses — these  again  were  led  of  Menestheus  son  of 
Peteos.  And  there  was  no  man  upon  the  face  of  earth  that 
was  like  him  for  the  marshalling  of  horsemen  and  warriors 
that  bear  the  shield.  Only  Nestor  rivalled  him,  for  he  was 
the  breasts  of  the  foes.  And  with  him  forty  black  ships  followed. 

And  Aias  led  twelve  ships  from  Salamis,  and  brought  them 
and  set  them  where  the  battalions  of  the  Athenians  stood. 

And  they  that  possessed  Argos  and  Tiryns  of  the  great 
walls,  Hermione  and  Asine  that  enfold  the  deep  gulf,  Troizen 
and  Eionai  and  Epidauros  full  of  vines,  and  the  youths  of  the 
Achaians  that  possessed  Aigina  and  Mases,  these  were  led  of 
Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  and  Sthenelos,  dear  son  of  fa- 
mous Kapaneus.  And  the  third  with  them  came  Euryalos,  a 
godlike  warrior,  the  son  of  king  Mekisteus  son  of  Talaos. 
But  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  was  lord  over  all.  And 
with  them  eighty  black  ships  followed. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  the  stablished  fortress  of 
Mykene  and  wealthy  Corinth  and  stablished  Kleonai,  and 
dwelt  in  Orneiai  and  lovely  Araithyrea  and  Sikyon,  wherein 
Adrestos  was  king  at  the  first;  and  of  them  that  possessed 
Hyperesie  and  steep  Gonoessa  and  Pellene,  and  dwelt  about 
Aigion  and  through  all  the  coast-land  and  about  broad  Helike, 
of  them  did  lord  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus  lead  an  hundred 
ships.  With  him  followed  most  and  goodliest  folk  by  far; 
and  in  their  midst  himself  was  clad  in  flashing  bronze,  all 
glorious,  and  was  pre-eminent  amid  all  warriors,  because  he 
was  goodliest  and  led  folk  far  greatest  in  number. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Lakedaimon  lying  low  amid 
the  rifted  hills,  and  Pharis  and  Sparta  and  Messe,  the  haunt 
of  doves,  and  dwelt  in  Bryseiai  and  lovely  Augeiai,  and  of 
them  too  that  possessed  Amyklai  and  the  sea-coast  fortress  of 
Helos,  and  that  possessed  Laas  and  dwelt  about  Oitylos,  of 
these  was  the  king's  brother  leader,  even  Menelaos  of  the  loud 


62  HOMER 

war-cry,  leader  of  sixty  ships,  and  these  were  arrayed  apart. 
And  himself  marched  among  them  confident  in  his  zeal,  urging 
his  men  to  battle:  and  his  heart  most  of  all  was  set  to  take 
vengeance  for  his  strivings  and  groans  for  Helen's  sake. 

And  of  them  that  dwelt  in  Pylos  and  lovely  Arene  and 
Thryon  the  fording-place  of  Alpheios,  and  in  stablished  Aipy, 
and  were  inhabitants  of  Kyparisseis  and  Amphigeneia  and 
Pteleos  and  Helos  and  Dorion — where  the  Muses  met  Thamy- 
ris  the  Thracian,  and  made  an  end  of  his  singing,  as  he  was 
faring  from  Oichalia,  from  Eurytos,  the  Oichalian;  for  he 
averred  with  boasting  that  he  would  conquer,  even  did  the 
Muses  themselves  sing  against  him,  the  daughters  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus;  but  they  in  their  anger  maimed  him,  moreover 
they  took  from  him  the  high  gift  of  song  and  made  him  to 
forget  his  harping — of  all  these  was  knightly  Nestor  of  Gere- 
nia  leader,  and  with  him  sailed  ninety  hollow  ships. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Arkadia  beneath  the  steep 
mountain  of  Kyllene,  beside  the  tomb  of  Aipytos,  where  are 
warriors  that  fight  hand  to  hand ;  and  of  them  that  dwelt  in 
Pheneos  and  Orchomenos  abounding  in  flocks,  and  Rhipe  and 
Stratie  and  windy  Enispe,  and  that  possessed  Tegea  and  lovely 
Mantineia,  and  possessed  Stymphelos  and  dwelt  in  Parrhasie, 
of  these  was  Ankaios'  son  lord  Agapenor  leader,  even  of  sixty 
ships;  and  in  each  ship  embarked  many  Arkadian  warriors 
skilled  in  fight.  For  Agamemnon  king  of  men  himself  gave  them 
benched  ships  wherewith  to  cross  the  wine-dark  sea,  even  he  the 
son  of  Atreus ;  for  matters  of  seafaring  concerned  them  not. 

And  they  too  that  inhabited  Bouprasion  and  goodly  Elis, 
so  much  thereof  as  Hyrmine  and  Myrsinos  upon  the  borders 
and  the  Olenian  rock  and  Aleision  bound  between  them,  of 
these  men  there  were  four  captains,  and  ten  swift  ships  fol- 
lowed each  one,  and  many  Epeians  embarked  thereon.  So 
some  were  led  of  Amphimachos  and  Thalpios,  of  the  lineage 
of  Aktor,  sons  one  of  Kteatos  and  one  of  Eurytos;  and  of 
some  was  stalwart  Diores  captain,  son  of  Amarynkes;  and  of 
the  fourth  company  godlike  Polyxeinos  was  captain,  son  of 
king  Agasthenes  Augeias'  son. 

And  them  of  Doulichion  and  the  holy  Echinean  Isles  that 
stand  beyond  the  sea  over  against  Elis,  even  these  did  Meges 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  63 

lead,  the  peer  o£  Ares,  Phyleides  to  wit,  for  he  was  begotten 
of  knightly  Phyleus  dear  to  Zeus,  him  that  erst  changed  his 
habitation  to  Doulichion  for  anger  against  his  father/  And 
with  him  followed  forty  black  ships. 

And  Odysseus  led  the  great-hearted  Kephallenians,  them 
that  possessed  Ithaka  and  Neriton  with  quivering  leafage,  and 
dwelt  in  Krokyleia  and  rugged  Aigilips,  and  them  that  pos- 
sessed Zakynthos  and  that  dwelt  in  Samos,  and  possessed  the 
mainland  and  dwelt  in  the  parts  over  against  the  isles.  Them 
did  Odysseus  lead,  the  peer  of  Zeus  in  counsel,  and  with  him 
followed  twelve  ships  with  vermilion  prow. 

And  of  the  Aitolians  Thoas  was  captain,  the  son  of  An- 
draimon,  even  of  them  that  dwelt  in  Pleuron  and  Olenos  and 
Pylene,  and  Chalkis  on  the  sea-shore  and  rocky  Kalydon.  For 
the  sons  of  great-hearted  Oineus  were  no  more,  neither  did 
he  still  live,  and  golden-haired  Meleagros  was  dead,  to  whose 
hands  all  had  been  committed,  for  him  to  be  king  of  the  Aito- 
lians.   And  with  Thoas  there  followed  forty  black  ships. 

And  of  the  Cretans  Idomeneus  the  famous  spearman  was 
leader,  even  of  them  that  possessed  Knosos  and  Gortys  of  the 
great  walls  of  Lyktos  and  Miletos  and  chalky  Lykastos  and 
Phaistos  and  Rhytion,  stablished  cities  all;  and  of  all  others 
that  dwelt  in  Crete  of  the  hundred  cities.  Of  these  men  was 
Idomeneus  the  famous  spearman  leader,  and  Meriones  peer 
of  the  man-slaying  war-god.  With  these  followed  eighty 
black  ships. 

And  Tlepolemos,  Herakles'  son  goodly  and  tall,  led  from 
Rhodes  nine  ships  of  the  lordly  Rhodians,  that  dwelt  in  Rhodes 
in  threefold  ordering,  in  Lindos  and  lalysos  and  chalky  Ka- 
meiros.  These  were  led  of  Tlepolemos  the  famous  spearman, 
that  was  born  to  great  Herakles  by  Astyocheia,  whom  he  had 
brought  away  from  Ephyre  by  the  river  Selleeis,  when  he  laid 
waste  many  cities  of  strong  men,  fosterlings  of  Zeus.  Now 
when  Tlepolemos  had  grown  to  manhood  within  the  strong 
palace  walls,  anon  he  slew  his  own  father's  dear  uncle,  an  old 

^  Phyleus  was  the  son  of  Augeias,  and  sought  a  new  home  in  Douli- 
chion, because  he  had  borne  witness  against  his  father  before  Her- 
akles, concerning  the  hire  which  Augeias  had  promised  for  the 
cleansing  of  his  stables. 


64  HOMER 

man  now,  Likymnios  of  the  stock  of  Ares.  Then  with  speed 
built  he  ships  and  gathered  much  folk  together,  and  went  flee- 
ing across  the  deep,  because  the  other  sons  and  grandsons  of 
great  Herakles  threatened  him.  So  he  came  to  Rhodes  a 
wanderer,  enduring  hardships,  and  his  folk  settled  by  kinship 
in  three  tribes,  and  were  loved  of  Zeus  that  is  king  among 
gods  and  men ;  and  Kronion  poured  upon  them  exceeding  great 
wealth. 

Nireus,  moreover,  led  three  trim  ships  from  Syme,  Nireus 
son  of  Aglaia  and  king  Charopos,  Nireus  the  most  beauteous 
man  that  came  up  under  Ilios  of  all  the  Danaans,  after  the 
noble  son  of  Peleus.  Howbeit  he  was  a  weakling,  and  a  scanty 
host  followed  him. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Nisyros  and  Krapathos  and 
Kasos  and  Kos  the  city  of  Eurypylos,  and  the  Kalydnian  Isles, 
of  them  Pheidippos  and  Antiphos  were  leaders,  the  two  sons 
of  king  Thessalos  son  of  Herakles.  With  them  were  arrayed 
thirty  hollow  ships. 

Now  all  moreover  that  dwelt  in  the  Pelasgian  Argos  and 
inhabited  Alos  and  Alope  and  Trachis  and  possessed  Phthia 
and  Hellas  the  home  of  fair  women,  and  were  called  Myrmi- 
dons and  Hellenes  and  Achaians;  of  all  these,  even  fifty  ships, 
Achilles  was  captain.  But  these  took  no  thought  of  noisy  war ; 
for  there  was  no  man  to  array  them  in  line  of  battle.  For 
fleet-footed  goodly  Achilles  lay  idle  amid  the  ships,  wroth  for 
the  sake  of  a  damsel,  Briseis  of  the  lovely  hair,  whom  he  had 
won  from  Lyrnessos  with  much  travail,  what  time  he  laid 
waste  Lyrnessos  and  the  walls  of  Thebe,  and  overthrew  Mynes 
and  Epistrophos,  warriors  that  bare  the  spear,  sons  of  king 
Euenos  Selepos'  son.  For  her  sake  lay  Achilles  sorrowing; 
but  soon  was  he  to  arise  again. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Ph3dake  and  flowery  Pyrasos, 
Demeter's  sanctuary,  and  Iton  mother  of  flocks,  and  Antron 
by  the  sea-shore  and  Pteleos  couched  in  grass,  of  all  these  was 
warlike  Protesilaos  leader  while  yet  he  lived ;  but  now  ere  this 
the  black  earth  held  him  fast.  His  wife  with  marred  visage 
was  left  alone  in  Phylake,  yea,  and  his  bridal  chamber  half 
builded;  for  a  Dardanian  warrior  slew  him  as  he  leapt  from 
his  ship  far  first  of  the  Achaians.     Yet  neither  were  his  men 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    II  65 

leaderless,  though  they  sorrowed  for  their  leader;  for  Po- 
darkes  of  the  stock  of  Ares  marshalled  them,  son  of  Phylakos' 
son  Iphiklos  was  he,  the  lord  of  many  flocks,  own  brother  of 
great-hearted  Protesilaos,  and  younger-born  than  he:  but  the 
other  was  alike  the  elder  and  the  braver,  even  Protesilaos,  that 
mighty  man  of  war.  Yet  did  not  the  host  lack  at  all  a  leader, 
only  they  yearned  for  the  noble  dead.  With  him  followed 
forty  black  ships. 

And  of  them  that  dwelt  in  Pherai  by  the  Boibeian  mere,  in 
Boibe  and  Glaphyre  and  stablished  lolkos,  of  them,  even 
eleven  ships,  Admetos'  dear  son  was  leader,  Eumelos  whom 
Alkestis,  fair  among  women,  bare  to  Admetos,  she  that  was 
most  beauteous  to  look  upon  of  the  daughters  of  Pelias. 

And  of  them  that  dwelt  in  Methone  and  Thaumakie,  and 
possessed  Meliboia  and  rugged  Olizon,  of  these,  even  seven 
ships,  was  Philoktetes  leader,  the  cunning  archer ;  and  in  each 
ship  sailed  fifty  oarsmen  skilled  to  fight  amain  with  the  bow. 
But  their  captain  lay  enduring  sore  pain  in  the  isle  of  goodly 
Lemnos,  where  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  left  him  sick  of  a 
grievous  wound  from  a  deadly  water-snake.  There  lay  he 
pining;  3'et  were  the  Argives  soon  to  bethink  them  beside  their 
ships  of  king  Philoktetes.  Yet  neither  were  his  men  leaderless, 
only  they  sorrowed  for  their  leader;  but  Medon  marshalled 
them,  Oileus'  bastard  son,  whom  Rhene  bare  to  Oileus  waster 
of  cities. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Trikke  and  terraced  Ithome 
and  that  possessed  Oichalia  city  of  Eurytos  the  Oichalian,  of 
these  again  Asklepios'  two  sons  were  leaders,  the  cunning 
leeches  Podaleirios  and  Machaon.  And  with  them  were  ar- 
rayed thirty  hollow  ships. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Ormenios  and  the  fountain  of 
Hypereia,  and  possessed  Asterion  and  the  white  crests  of 
Titanos,  of  these  was  Eurypylos  leader,  Euaimon's  glorious 
son ;  and  with  him  forty  black  ships  followed. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Argissa  and  dwelt  in  Gyrtona, 
Orthe  and  Elone  and  the  white  city  of  Oloosson,  of  these  was 
captain  unflinching  Polypoites,  son  of  Peirithoos  that  immortal 
Zeus  begat :  and  Polypoites  did  famed  Hippodameia  conceive 
of  Peirithoos  on  that  day  when  he  took  vengeance  of  the 


66  HOMER 

shaggy  wild  folk,  and  thrust  them  forth  from  Pelion  and  drave 
them  to  the  Aithikes.  And  Polypoites  ruled  not  alone,  but  with 
him  was  Leonteus  of  the  stock  of  Ares,  son  of  high-hearted 
Koronos  Kaineus's  son.  And  with  them  forty  black  ships 
followed. 

And  Gouneus  from  Kyphos  led  two-and-twenty  ships,  and 
with  him  followed  the  Enienes  and  unflinching  Peraibians  that 
had  pitched  their  homes  about  wintry  Dodona,  and  dwelt  on 
the  tilth  about  lovely  Titaresios  that  poureth  his  fair-flowing 
stream  into  Peneios.  Yet  doth  he  not  mingle  with  the  silver 
eddies  of  Peneios,  but  floweth  on  over  him  like  unto  oil,  seeing 
that  he  is  an  offspring  from  the  water  of  Styx,  the  dread  river 
of  the  oath. 

And  the  Magnetes  were  led  of  Prothoos  son  of  Tenthredon, 
even  they  that  dwelt  about  Peneios  and  Pelion  with  trembling 
leafage.  These  did  fleet  Prothoos  lead,  and  with  him  forty 
black  ships  followed. 

So  these  were  the  leaders  of  the  Danaans  and  their  captains. 
Now  tell  me,  O  Muse,  who  among  them  was  first  and  fore- 
most, of  warriors  alike  and  horses  that  followed  the  sons  of 
Atreus.  Of  horses  they  of  Pheres'  son  were  far  goodliest, 
those  that  Eumelos  drave,  swift  as  birds,  like  of  coat,  like  of 
age,  matched  to  the  measure  of  a  levelling  line  across  their 
backs.  These  were  reared  in  Peraia  by  Apollo  of  the  silver 
bow,  two  mares  carrying  onward  the  terror  of  battle.  But  of 
warriors  far  best  was  the  Telamonian  Aias,  while  the  wrath 
of  Achilles  yet  endured ;  for  he  was  greatest  of  all,  he  and  his 
horses  that  bore  him,  even  Peleus'  noble  son.  But  he  lay  idle 
among  his  seafaring  ships,  in  sore  wrath  against  Agamemnon 
Atreus'  son,  shepherd  of  the  host ;  and  his  folk  along  the  sea- 
shore sported  with  quoits  and  with  casting  of  javelins  and 
archery ;  and  the  horses  each  beside  his  own  chariot  stood  idle, 
champing  clover  and  parsley  of  the  marsh,  and  their  lords' 
chariots  lay  well  covered  up  within  the  huts,  while  the  men 
yearned  for  their  warrior  chief,  and  wandered  hither  and 
thither  through  the  camp  and  fought  not. 

So  marched  they  then  as  though  all  the  land  were  con- 
suming with  fire;  and  the  earth  groaned  beneath  them  as  at 
the  wrath  of  Zeus  whose  joy  is  in  the  thunder,  when  he  lasheth 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  67 

the  earth  about  Typhoeus  in  the  country  of  the  Arimoi,  where 
men  say  is  Typhoeus'  couch.  Even  so  groaned  the  earth  aloud 
at  their  tread  as  they  went:  and  with  speed  advanced  they 
across  the  plain. 

Now  fleet  Iris  the  wind-footed  went  to  the  Trojans,  a 
messenger  from  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  with  a  grievous  message. 
These  were  holding  assembly  at  Priam's  gate,  being  gathered 
all  together  both  young  and  old.  And  fleet-footed  Iris  stood 
hard  by  and  spake  to  them;  and  she  made  her  voice  like  to 
the  voice  of  Polites  son  of  Priam,  who  was  the  sentinel  of- 
the  Trojans  and  was  wont  to  sit  trusting  in  his  fleetness  upon 
the  barrow  of  Aisyetes  of  old,  and  on  the  top  thereof  wait  the 
sallying  of  the  Achaians  forth  from  their  ships.  Even  in  his 
likeness  did  fleet-footed  Iris  speak  to  Priam:  "Old  man, 
words  beyond  number  are  still  pleasant  to  thee  as  erst  in  the 
days  of  peace;  but  war  without  respite  is  upon  us.  Of  a  truth 
have  I  very  oft  ere  now  entered  into  battles  of  the  warriors, 
yet  have  I  never  seen  so  goodly  a  host  and  so  great ;  for  in  the 
very  likeness  of  the  leaves  of  the  forest  or  the  sands  of  the 
sea  are  they  marching  along  the  plain  to  fight  against  the  city. 
But  Hector,  thee  do  I  charge  beyond  all  to  do  even  as  I  shall 
say.  Seeing  that  the  allies  are  very  many  throughout  Priam's 
great  city,  and  diverse  men,  being  scattered  abroad,  have  di- 
verse tongues;  therefore  let  each  one  give  the  word  to  those 
whose  chieftain  he  is,  and  them  let  him  lead  forth  and  have 
the  ordering  of  his  countrymen." 

So  spake  she,  and  Hector  failed  not  to  know  the  voice  of 
the  goddess,  and  straightway  dismissed  the  assembly,  and 
they  rushed  to  arms.  And  the  gates  were  thrown  open  wide, 
and  the  host  issued  forth,  footmen  and  horsemen,  and  mighty 
din  arose. 

Now  there  is  before  the  city  a  certain  steep  mound  apart 
in  the  plain,  with  a  clear  way  about  it  on  this  side  and  on  that ; 
and  men  indeed  call  this  "Batieia,"  but  the  immortals  call  it 
"the  tomb  of  lithe  Myrine."  There  did  the  Trojans  and  their 
allies  divide  their  companies. 

Amid  the  Trojans  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  was 
leader,  the  son  of  Priam;  with  him  the  greatest  hosts  by  far 
and  the  goodliest  were  arrayed,  eager  warriors  of  the  spear. 


68  HOMER 

But  the  Dardanians  were  led  of  the  princely  son  of  An- 
chises,  Aineias,  whom  bright  Aphrodite  conceived  to  Anchises 
amidst  the  spurs  of  Ida,  a  goddess  wedded  to  a  mortal.  Neither 
was  he  alone ;  with  him  were  Antenor's  two  sons,  Archelochos 
and  Akamas,  well  skilled  in  all  the  ways  of  war. 

And  of  them  that  dwelt  in  Zeleia  beneath  the  nethermost 
foot  of  Ida,  the  men  of  substance  that  drink  the  dark  waters 
of  Aisepos,  even  the  Trees;  of  these  Lykaon's  glorious  son 
was  leader,  Pandaros,  to  whom  Apollo  himself  gave  the  bow. 

And  of  them  that  possessed  Adresteia  and  the  land  of 
Apaisos  and  possessed  Pityeia  and  the  steep  hill  of  Tereia,  of 
these  Adrestos  was  captain,  and  Amphios  of  the  linen  corslet, 
the  two  sons  of  Merops  of  Perkote,  that  beyond  all  men  knew 
soothsaying,  and  would  have  hindered  his  children  marching 
to  murderous  war.  But  they  gave  him  no  heed,  for  the  fates 
of  black  death  led  them  on. 

And  they  that  dwelt  about  Perkote  and  Praktios  and 
possessed  Sestos  and  Abydos  and  bright  Arisbe,  these  were 
led  of  Hyrtakos'  son  Asios,  a  prince  of  men,  Asios  son  of 
Hyrtakos,  whom  his  tall  sorrel  steeds  brought  from  Arisbe, 
from  the  river  Selleeis. 

And  Hippothoos  led  the  tribes  of  the  Pelasgians  that  fight 
with  spears,  them  that  inhabited  deep-soiled  Larisa,  These 
were  led  of  Hippothoos  and  Pylaios  of  the  stock  of  Ares, 
twain  sons  of  Pelasgian  Lethos  son  of  Teutamos. 

And  the  Thracians  were  led  of  Akamas  and  hero  Peiroos, 
even  all  they  that  the  strong  stream  of  Hellespont  shutteth  in. 
And  Euphemos  was  captain  of  the  Kikonian  spearmen,  the 
son  of  Troizenos  Keos'  son,  fosterling  of  Zeus. 

But  Pyraichmes  led  the  Paionians  with  curving  bows,  from 
far  away  in  Amydon,  from  the  broad  stream  of  Axios,  Axios 
whose  water  is  the  fairest  that  floweth  over  the  face  of  the 
earth. 

And  Pylaimenes  of  rugged  heart  led  the  Paphlagonians 
from  the  land  of  the  Eneti,  whence  is  the  breed  of  wild  mules. 
This  folk  were  they  that  possessed  Kytoros  and  dwelt  about 
Sesamon,  and  inhabited  their  famed  dwellings  round  the  river 
Parthenios  and  Kromna  and  Aigialos  and  lofty  Erythini. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   II  69 

And  the  Alizones  were  led  of  Odios  and  Epistrophos,  from 
far  away  in  Alybe,  where  is  the  birthplace  of  silver. 

And  the  Mysians  were  led  of  Chromis  and  Ennomos  the 
augur,  yet  with  all  his  auguries  warded  he  not  black  fate  from 
him,  but  was  vanquished  by  the  hand  of  fleet-footed  Aiakides 
in  the  river,  when  he  made  havoc  of  the  Trojans  there  and 
of  the  rest. 

And  Phorkys  and  godlike  Askanios  led  the  Phrygians  from 
far  Askania,  and  these  were  eager  to  fight  in  the  battle-throng. 

And  the  Maionians  were  commanded  of  Mesthles  and  An- 
tiphos,  Talaimenes'  two  sons,  whose  mother  was  the  Gygaian 
mere.  So  these  led  the  Maionians,  whose  birthplace  was  under 
Tmolos. 

But  Nastes  led  the  Karians,  uncouth  of  speech,  that  pos- 
sessed Miletos  and  the  mountain  of  Phthires,  of  leafage  num- 
berless, and  the  streams  of  Maiandros  and  the  steep  crest  of 
Mykale.  These  were  led  of  Amphimachos  and  Nastes :  Nastes 
and  Amphimachos  the  glorious  children  of  Nomion.  And  he 
came,  forsooth,  to  battle  with  golden  attire  like  a  girl — fond 
man :  that  held  not  back  in  any  wise  grievous  destruction,  but 
he  was  vanquished  by  the  hands  of  fleet-footed  Aiakides  in 
the  river,  and  wise-hearted  Achilles  carried  away  his  gold. 

And  Sarpedon  and  blameless  Glaukos  led  the  Lykians  from 
far  away  in  Lykia  by  eddying  Xanthos. 


BOOK  III 

How  Menelaos  and  Paris  fought  in  single  combat;  and  Aphrodite 
rescued  Paris.  And  how  Helen  and  Priam  beheld  the  Achaian  host 
from  the  walls  of  Troy. 

Now  when  they  were  arrayed,  each  company  with  their 
captains,  the  Trojans  marched  with  clamour  and  with  shout- 
ing like  unto  birds,  even  as  when  there  goeth  up  before  heaven 
a  clamour  of  cranes  which  flee  from  the  coming  of  winter  and 
sudden  rain,  and  fly  with  clamour  towards  the  streams  of 


70  HOMER 

ocean,  bearing  slaughter  and  fate  to  the  Pigmy  men,  and  in 
early  morn  offer  cruel  battle.  But  on  the  other  side  marched 
the  Achaians  in  silence  breathing  courage,  eager  at  heart  to 
give  succour  man  to  man. 

Even  as  when  the  south  wind  sheddeth  mist  over  the  crests 
of  a  mountain,  mist  unwelcome  to  the  shepherd,  but  to  the 
robber  better  than  night,  and  a  man  can  see  no  further  than 
he  casteth  a  stone;  even  so  thick  arose  the  gathering  dust- 
clouds  at  their  tread  as  they  went;  and  with  all  speed  they 
advanced  across  the  plain. 

So  when  they  were  now  come  nigh  in  onset  on  each  other, 
godlike  Alexandros  played  champion  to  the  Trojans,  wearing 
upon  his  shoulders  panther-skin  and  curved  bow  and  sword; 
and  he  brandished  two  bronze-headed  spears  and  challenged 
all  the  chieftains  of  the  Argives  to  fight  him  man  to  man  in 
deadly  combat.  But  when  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares  marked  him 
coming  in  the  forefront  of  the  multitude  with  long  strides,  then 
even  as  a  lion  is  glad  when  he  lighteth  upon  a  great  carcase, 
a  horned  stag,  or  a  wild  goat  that  he  hath  found,  being  an 
hungered;  and  so  he  devoureth  it  amain,  even  though  the 
fleet  hounds  and  lusty  youths  set  upon  him;  even  thus  was 
Menelaos  glad  when  his  eyes  beheld  godlike  Alexandros;  for 
he  thought  to  take  vengeance  upon  the  sinner.  So  straightway 
he  leapt  in  his  armour  from  his  chariot  to  the  ground. 

But  when  godlike  Alexandros  marked  him  appear  amid  the 
champions,  his  heart  was  smitten,  and  he  shrank  back  into  the 
host  of  his  comrades,  avoiding  death.  And  even  as  a  man 
that  hath  seen  a  serpent  in  a  mountain  glade  starteth  backward 
and  trembling  seizeth  his  feet  beneath  him,  and  he  retreateth 
back  again,  and  paleness  hath  hold  of  his  cheeks,  even  so  did 
godlike  Alexandros  for  fear  of  Atreus'  son  shrink  back  into 
the  throng  of  lordly  Trojans.  But  Hector  beheld  and  up- 
braided him  with  scornful  words:  "111  Paris,  most  fair  in 
semblance,  thou  deceiver  woman-mad,  would  thou  hadst  been 
unborn  and  died  unwed.  Yea,  that  were  my  desire,  and  it 
were  far  better  than  thus  to  be  our  shame  and  looked  at 
askance  of  all  men.  I  ween  that  the  flowing-haired  Achaians 
laugh,  deeming  that  a  prince  is  our  champion  only  because  a 
goodly  favour  is  his;  but  in  his  heart  is  there  no  strength 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    III  71 

nor  any  courage.  Art  thou  indeed  such  an  one  that  in  thy  sea- 
faring ships  thou  didst  sail  over  the  deep  with  the  company  of 
thy  trusty  comrades,  and  in  converse  with  strangers  didst 
bring  back  a  fair  woman  from  a  far  country,  one  that  was  by 
marriage  daughter  to  warriors  that  bear  the  spear,  that  she 
might  be  a  sore  mischief  to  thy  father  and  city  and  all  the 
realm,  but  to  our  foes  a  rejoicing,  and  to  thyself  a  hanging  of 
the  head  ?  And  canst  thou  not  indeed  abide  Menelaos  dear  to 
Ares?  Thou  mightest  see  what  sort  of  warrior  is  he  whose 
lovely  wife  thou  hast.  Thy  lyre  will  not  avail  thee  nor  the 
gifts  of  Aphrodite,  those  thy  locks  and  fair  favour,  when  thou 
grovellest  in  the  dust.  But  the  Trojans  are  very  cowards : 
else  ere  this  hadst  thou  donned  a  robe  of  stone  [i.  e.  been 
stoned  by  the  people]  for  all  the  ill  thou  hast  wrought." 

And  godlike  Alexandros  made  answer  to  him  again :  "Hec- 
tor, since  in  measure  thou  chidest  me  and  not  beyond  measure 
— thy  heart  is  ever  keen,  even  as  an  axe  that  pierceth  a  beam 
at  the  hand  of  a  man  that  shapeth  a  ship's  timber  with  skill, 
and  thereby  is  the  man's  blow  strengthened ;  even  such  is  thy 
heart  undaunted  in  thy  breast.  Cast  not  in  my  teeth  the  lovely 
gifts  of  golden  Aphrodite;  not  to  be  flung  aside  are  the  gods' 
glorious  gifts  that  of  their  own  good  will  they  give;  for  by 
his  desire  can  no  man  win  them.  But  now  if  thou  wilt  have 
me  do  battle  and  fight,  make  the  other  Trojans  sit  down  and 
all  the  Achaians,  and  set  ye  me  in  the  midst,  and  Menelaos 
dear  to  Ares,  to  fight  for  Helen  and  all  her  wealth.  And 
whichsoever  shall  vanquish  and  gain  the  upper  hand,  let  him 
take  all  the  wealth  aright,  and  the  woman,  and  bear  them 
home.  And  let  the  rest  pledge  friendship  and  sure  oaths;  so 
may  ye  dwell  in  deep-soiled  Troy,  and  let  them  depart  to  Argos 
pasture-land  of  horses,  and  Achaia  home  of  fair  women." 

So  spake  he,  and  Hector  rejoiced  greatly  to  hear  his  say- 
ing, and  went  into  the  midst  and  restrained  the  battalions  of 
the  Trojans,  with  his  spear  grasped  by  the  middle;  and  they 
all  sate  them  down.  But  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  kept 
shooting  at  him,  aiming  with  arrows  and  casting  stones.  But 
Agamemnon  king  of  men  cried  aloud:  "Refrain,  ye  Argives; 
shoot  not,  ye  sons  of  the  Achaians ;  for  Hector  of  the  glancing 
helm  hath  set  himself  to  say  somewhat." 


72  HOMER 

So  spake  he,  and  they  refrained  from  battle  and  made 
silence  speedily.  And  Hector  spake  between  the  two  hosts 
"Hear  of  me,  Trojans  and  well-greaved  Achaians,  the  saying 
of  Alexandros,  for  whose  sake  strife  hath  come  about.  He 
biddeth  the  other  Trojans  and  all  the  Achaians  to  lay  down 
their  goodly  armour  on  the  bounteous  earth,  and  himself  in 
the  midst  and  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares  to  fight  alone  for  Helen 
and  all  her  wealth.  And  whichsoever  shall  vanquish  and  gain 
the  upper  hand,  let  him  take  all  the  wealth  aright,  and  the 
woman,  and  bear  them  home;  but  let  all  of  us  pledge  friendship 
and  sure  oaths." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  all  kept  silence  and  were  still.  Then 
in  their  midst  spake  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry:  "Hearken 
ye  now  to  me,  too;  for  into  my  heart  most  of  all  is  grief  en- 
tered; and  I  deem  that  the  parting  of  Argives  and  Trojans 
hath  come  at  last ;  seeing  ye  have  endured  many  ills  because  of 
my  quarrel  and  the  first  sin  of  Alexandros.  And  for  which- 
soever of  us  death  and  fate  are  prepared,  let  him  lie  dead :  and 
be  ye  all  parted  with  speed.  Bring  ye  two  lambs,  one  white 
ram  and  one  black  ewe,  for  earth  and  sun ;  and  let  us  bring  one 
for  Zeus.  And  call  hither  great  Priam,  that  he  may  pledge 
the  oath  himself,  seeing  he  hath  sons  that  are  overweening  and 
faithless,  lest  any  by  transgression  do  violence  to  the  oath  of 
Zeus;  for  young  men's  hearts  are  ever  lifted  up.  But  where- 
soever an  old  man  entereth  in,  he  looketh  both  before  and 
after,  whereby  the  best  issue  shall  come  for  either  side." 

So  spake  he,  and  Achaians  and  Trojans  were  glad,  deem- 
ing that  they  should  have  rest  from  grievous  war.  So  they 
refrained  their  chariots  to  the  ranks,  and  themselves  alighted 
and  doffed  their  arms.  And  these  they  laid  upon  the  earth 
each  close  to  each,  and  there  was  but  small  space  between. 
And  Hector  sent  two  heralds  to  the  city  with  all  speed,  to 
bring  the  lambs,  and  to  call  Priam.  And  lord  Agamemnon 
sent  forth  Talthybios  to  go  to  the  hollow  ships,  and  bade  him 
bring  a  ram ;  and  he  was  not  disobedient  to  noble  Agamemnon. 

Now  Iris  went  with  a  message  to  white-armed  Helen  in 
the  likeness  of  her  husband's  sister,  the  spouse  of  Antenor's 
son,  even  her  that  lord  Helikaon  Antenor's  son  had  to  wife, 
Laodike  fairest  favoured  of  Priam's  daughters.     And  in  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    III  73 

hall  she  found  Helen  weaving  a  great  purple  web  of  double 
fold,  and  embroidering  thereon  many  battles  of  horse-taming 
Trojans  and  m^il-clad  Achaians,  that  they  had  endured  for  her 
sake  at  the  hands  of  Ares.  So  fleet-footed  Iris  stood  by  her 
side  and  said:  ''Come  hither,  dear  sister,  that  thou  mayest 
see  the  wondrous  doings  of  horse-taming  Trojans  and  mail- 
clad  Achaians.  They  that  erst  waged  tearful  war  upon  each 
other  in  the  plain,  eager  for  deadly  battle,  even  they  sit  now 
in  silence,  and  the  battle  is  stayed,  and  they  lean  upon  their 
shields,  and  the  tall  spears  are  planted  by  their  sides.  But 
Alexandros  and  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares  will  fight  with  their 
tall  spears  for  thee;  and  thou  wilt  be  declared  the  dear  wife 
of  him  that  conquereth." 

So  spake  the  goddess,  and  put  into  her  heart  sweet  longing 
for  her  former  husband  and  her  city  and  parents. 

Forthwith  she  veiled  her  face  in  shining  linen,  and  hastened 
from  her  chamber,  letting  fall  a  round  tear;  not  unattended, 
for  there  followed  with  her  two  handmaidens,  Aithre  daughter 
of  Pittheus  and  ox-eyed  Klymene.  Then  came  she  straight- 
way to  the  place  of  the  Skaian  gates.  And  they  that  were  with 
Priam  and  Panthoos  and  Thymoites  and  Lampos  and  Klytios 
and  Hiketaon  of  the  stock  of  Ares,  Oukalegon  withal  and  An- 
tenor,  twain  sages,  being  elders  of  the  people,  sat  at  the  Skaian 
gates.  These  had  now  ceased  from  battle  for  old  age,  yet 
were  they  right  good  orators,  like  grasshoppers  that  in  a  forest 
sit  upon  a  tree  and  utter  their  lily-like  voice;  even  so  sat  the 
elders  of  the  Trojans  upon  the  tower.  Now  when  they  saw 
Helen  coming  to  the  tower  they  softly  spake  winged  words 
one  to  the  other:  "Small  blame  is  it  that  Trojans  and  well- 
greaved  Achaians  should  for  such  a  woman  long  time  suflFer 
hardships;  marvellously  like  is  she  to  the  immortal  goddesses 
to  look  upon.  Yet  even  so,  though  she  be  so  goodly,  let  her 
go  upon  their  ships  and  not  stay  to  vex  us  and  our  children 
after  us." 

So  said  they,  and  Priam  lifted  up  his  voice  and  called  to 
Helen:  "Come  hither,  dear  child,  and  sit  before  me,  that  thou 
mayest  see  thy  former  husband  and  thy  kinsfolk  and  thy 
friends.  I  hold  thee  not  to  blame;  nay,  I  hold  the  gods  to 
blame  who  brought  on  me  the  dolorous  war  of  the  Achaians — • 


74  HOMER 

so  mayest  thou  now  tell  me  who  is  this  huge  hero,  this  Achaian 
warrior  so  goodly  and  great.  Of  a  truth  there  are  others  even 
taller  by  a  head;  yet  did  mine  eyes  never  behold  a  man  so 
beautiful  nor  so  royal;  for  he  is  like  unto  one  that  is  a  king." 

And  Helen,  fair  among  women,  spake  and  answered  him : 
"Reverend  art  thou  to  me  and  dread,  dear  father  of  my  lord ; 
would  that  sore  death  had  been  my  pleasure  when  I  followed 
thy  son  hither,  and  left  my  home  and  my  kinsfolk  and  my 
daughter  in  her  girlhood  and  the  lovely  company  of  mine  age- 
fellows.  But  that  was  not  so,  wherefore  I  pine  with  weeping. 
Now  will  I  tell  thee  that  whereof  thou  askest  me  and  en- 
quirest.  This  is  Atreides,  wide-ruling  Agamemnon,  one  that 
is  both  a  goodly  king  and  mighty  spearman.  And  he  was 
husband's  brother  to  me,  ah  shameless  me;  if  ever  such  an 
one  there  was." 

So  said  she,  and  the  old  man  marvelled  at  him,  and  said : 
"Ah,  happy  Atreides,  child  of  fortune,  blest  of  heaven;  now 
know  I  that  many  sons  of  the  Achaians  are  subject  to  thee. 
Erewhile  fared  I  to  Phrygia,  the  land  of  vines,  and  there  saw 
I  that  the  men  of  Phrygia,  they  of  the  nimble  steeds,  were  very 
many,  even  the  hosts  of  Otreus  and  godlike  Mygdon,  that 
were  then  encamped  along  the  banks  of  Sangarios.  For  I,  too 
being  their  ally  was  numbered  among  them  on  the  day  that  the 
Amazons  came,  the  peers  of  men.  Yet  were  not  even  they  so 
many  as  are  the  glancing-eyed  Achaians." 

And  next  the  old  man  saw  Odysseus,  and  asked:  "Come 
now,  tell  me  of  this  man  too,  dear  child,  who  is  he,  shorter 
by  a  head  than  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus,  but  broader  of 
shoulder  and  of  chest  to  behold?  His  armour  lieth  upon  the 
bounteous  earth,  and  himself  like  a  bell-wether  rangeth  the 
ranks  of  warriors.  Yea,  I  liken  him  to  a  thick-fleeced  ram 
ordering  a  great  flock  of  white  ewes." 

Then  Helen  sprung  of  Zeus  made  answer  to  him:  "Now 
this  is  Laertes'  son,  crafty  Odysseus,  that  was  reared  in  the 
realm  of  Ithaka,  rugged  though  it  be,  and  is  skilled  in  all  the 
ways  of  wile  and  cunning  device. 

Then  sage  Antenor  made  answer  to  her:  "Lady,  verily 
the  thing  thou  sayest  is  true  indeed,  for  erst  came  goodly 
Odysseus  hither  also  on  an  embassage  for  thee,  in  the  com- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   III  75 

pany  of  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares;  and  I  gave  them  entertain- 
ment and  welcomed  them  in  my  halls,  and  learnt  the  aspect  of 
both  and  their  wise  devices.  Now  when  they  mingled  with 
the  Trojans  in  the  assembly,  while  all  stood  up  Menelaos  over- 
passed them  all  by  the  measure  of  his  broad  shoulders;  but 
when  both  sat  down,  Odysseus  was  the  more  stately.  And 
when  they  began  to  weave  the  web  of  words  and  counsel  in 
the  face  of  all,  then  Menelaos  harangued  fluently,  in  few 
words,  but  very  clearly,  seeing  he  was  not  long  of  speech, 
neither  random,  though  in  years  he  was  the  younger.  But 
whenever  Odysseus  full  of  wiles  rose  up,  he  stood  and  looked 
down,  with  eyes  fixed  upon  the  ground,  and  waved  not  his 
staff  whether  backwards  or  forwards,  but  held  it  stiff,  like 
to  a  man  of  no  understanding;  one  would  deem  him  to  be 
churlish,  and  naught  but  a  fool.  But  when  he  uttered  his  great 
voice  from  his  chest,  and  words  like  unto  the  snowflakes  of 
winter,  then  could  no  mortal  man  contend  with  Odysseus ;  then 
marvelled  we  not  thus  to  behold  Odysseus'  aspect," 

And  thirdly  the  old  man  saw  Aias,  and  asked :  "Who 
then  is  this  other  Achaian  warrior,  goodly  and  great,  pre- 
eminent among  the  Argives  by  the  measure  of  his  head  and 
broad  shoulders?" 

And  long-robed  Helen,  fair  among  women,  answered: 
"This  is  huge  Aias,  bulwark  of  the  Achaians.  And  on  the 
other  side  amid  the  Cretans  standeth  Idomeneus  like  a  god, 
and  about  him  are  gathered  the  captains  of  the  Cretans.  Oft 
did  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares  entertain  him  in  our  house  whene'er 
he  came  from  Crete.  And  now  behold  I  all  the  other  glancing- 
eyed  Achaians,  whom  well  I  could  discern  and  tell  their  names ; 
but  two  captains  of  the  host  can  I  not  see,  even  Kastor  tamer 
of  horses  and  Polydeukes  the  skilful  boxer,  mine  own  brethren, 
whom  the  same  mother  bare.  Either  they  came  not  in  the 
company  from  lovely  Lakedaimon ;  or  they  came  hither  indeed 
in  their  seafaring  ships,  but  now  will  not  enter  into  the  battle 
of  the  warriors,  for  fear  of  the  many  scornings  and  revilings 
that  are  mine." 

So  said  she;  but  them  the  life-giving  earth  held  fast  there 
in  Lakedaimon,  in  their  dear  native  land. 

Meanwhile  were  the  heralds  bearing  through  the  city  the 


76  HOMER 

holy  oath-offerings,  two  lambs  and  strong-hearted  wine,  the 
fruit  of  the  earth,  in  a  goat-skin  bottle.  And  the  herald  Idaios 
bare  the  shining  bowl  and  golden  cups;  and  came  to  the  old 
man  and  summoned  him  and  said:  "Rise,  thou  son  of  Laom- 
edon.  The  chieftains  of  the  horse-taming  Trojans  and 
mail-clad  Achaians  call  on  thee  to  go  down  into  the  plain,  that 
ye  may  pledge  a  trusty  oath.  But  Alexandros  and  Menelaos 
dear  to  Ares  will  fight  with  their  long  spears  for  the  lady's 
sake;  and  let  lady  and  treasure  go  with  him  that  shall  con- 
quer. And  may  we  that  are  left  pledge  friendship  and  trusty 
oaths  and  dwell  in  deep-soiled  Troy,  and  they  shall  depart  to 
Argos  pasture-land  of  horses  and  Achaia  home  of  fair  women." 
So  said  he,  and  the  old  man  shuddered  and  bade  his  com- 
panions yoke  the  horses;  and  they  with  speed  obeyed.  Then 
Priam  mounted  and  drew  back  the  reins,  and  by  his  side  Ante- 
nor  mounted  the  splendid  chariot.  So  the  two  drave  the  fleet 
horses  through  the  Skaian  gates  to  the  plain.  And  when  they 
had  come  even  to  the  Trojans  and  Achaians,  they  went  down 
from  the  chariots  upon  the  bounteous  earth,  and  marched  into 
the  midst  of  Trojans  and  Achaians.  Then  forthwith  rose  up 
Agamemnon  king  of  men,  and  up  rose  Odysseus  the  man  of 
wiles ;  and  the  lordly  heralds  gathered  together  the  holy  oath- 
offerings  of  the  gods,  and  mingled  the  wine  in  a  bowl,  and 
poured  water  over  the  princes'  hands.  And  Atreides  put  forth 
his  hand  and  drew  his  knife  that  hung  ever  beside  his  sword's 
great  sheath,  and  cut  the  hair  from  off  the  lambs'  heads ;  and 
then  the  heralds  portioned  it  among  the  chief  of  the  Trojans 
and  Achaians.  Then  in  their  midst  Atreus'  son  lifted  up  his 
hands  and  prayed  aloud :  "Father  Zeus,  that  rulest  from  Ida, 
most  glorious,  most  great,  and  thou  Sun  that  seest  all  things 
and  hearest  all  things,  and  ye  Rivers  and  thou  Earth,  and  ye 
that  in  the  underworld  punish  men  outworn,  whosoever  swear- 
eth  falsely;  be  ye  witnesses,  and  watch  over  the  faithful  oath. 
If  Alexandros  slay  Menelaos,  then  let  him  have  Helen  to  him- 
self and  all  her  possessions;  and  we  will  depart  on  our  seafar- 
ing ships.  But  if  golden-haired  Menelaos  slay  Alexandros, 
then  let  the  Trojans  give  back  Helen  and  all  her  possessions, 
and  pay  the  Argives  the  recompense  that  is  seemly,  such  as 
shall  live  among  men  that  shall  be  hereafter.    But  if  so  be  that 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   III  77 

Priam  and  Priam's  sons  will  not  pay  the  recompense  unto  me 
when  Alexandros  falleth,  then  will  I  fight  on  thereafter  for  the 
price  of  sin,  and  abide  here  till  I  compass  the  end  of  war." 

So  said  he,  and  cut  the  lambs'  throats  with  the  pitiless 
knife.  Them  he  laid  gasping  upon  the  ground,  failing  of 
breath,  for  the  knife  had  taken  their  strength  from  them;  and 
next  they  drew  the  wine  from  the  bowl  into  the  cups,  and 
poured  it  forth  and  prayed  to  the  gods  that  live  for  ever.  And 
thus  would  say  many  an  one  of  Achaians  and  Trojans :  "Zeus 
most  glorious,  most  great,  and  all  ye  immortal  gods,  which 
folk  soe'er  be  first  to  sin  against  the  oaths,  may  their  brains  be 
so  poured  forth  upon  the  earth  even  as  this  wine,  theirs  and 
their  children's;  and  let  their  wives  be  made  subject  unto 
strangers." 

So  spake  they,  but  the  son  of  Kronos  vouchsafed  not  yet 
fulfilment.  And  in  their  midst  Priam  of  the  seed  of  Dardanos 
uttered  his  saying:  "Hearken  to  me,  Trojans  and  well- 
greaved  Achaians.  I  verily  will  return  back  to  windy  Ilios, 
seeing  that  I  can  in  no  wise  bear  to  behold  with  mine  eyes  my 
dear  son  fighting  with  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares.  But  Zeus 
knoweth,  and  all  the  immortal  gods,  for  whether  of  the  twain 
the  doom  of  death  is  appointed." 

So  spake  the  godlike  man,  and  laid  the  lambs  in  his  chariot, 
and  entered  in  himself,  and  drew  back  the  reins;  and  by  his 
side  Antenor  mounted  the  splendid  chariot.  So  they  departed 
back  again  to  Ilios;  and  Hector  son  of  Priam  and  goodly 
Odysseus  first  meted  out  a  space,  and  then  they  took  the  lots, 
and  shook  them  in  a  bronze-bound  helmet,  to  know  whether 
of  the  twain  should  first  cast  his  spear  of  bronze.  And  the 
people  prayed  and  lifted  up  their  hands  to  the  gods;  and  thus 
would  say  many  an  one  of  Achaians  and  Trojans :  "Father 
Zeus,  that  rulest  from  Ida,  most  glorious,  most  great;  which- 
soe'er  it  be  that  brought  this  trouble  upon  both  peoples,  vouch- 
safe that  he  may  die  and  enter  the  house  of  Hades;  that  so 
for  us  peace  may  be  assured  and  trusty  oaths." 

So  said  they;  and  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  plume  shook 
the  helmet,  looking  behind  him;  and  quickly  leapt  forth  the 
lot  of  Paris.  Then  the  people  sat  them  down  by  ranks  where 
each  man's  high-stepping  horses  and  inwrought  armour  lay. 


78  HOMER 

And  upon  his  shoulders  goodly  Alexandres  donned  his  beaute- 
ous armour,  even  he  that  was  lord  to  Helen  of  the  lovely  hair. 
First  upon  his  legs  set  he  his  greaves,  beautiful,  fastened  with 
silver  ankle-clasps ;  next  upon  his  breast  he  donned  the  corslet 
of  his  brother  Lykaon,  and  fitted  it  upon  himself.  And  over 
his  shoulders  cast  he  his  silver-studded  sword  of  bronze,  and. 
then  a  shield  great  and  sturdy.  And  on  his  mighty  head  he  set 
a  wrought  helmet  of  horse-hair  crest,  whereover  the  plume 
nodded  terribly,  and  he  took  him  a  strong  spear  fitted  to  his 
grasp.    And  in  like  wise  Menelaos  donned  his  armour. 

So  when  they  had  armed  themselves  on  either  side  in  the 
throng,  they  strode  between  Trojans  and  Achaians,  fierce  of 
aspect,  and  wonder  came  on  them  that  beheld,  both  on  the 
Trojans  tamers  of  horses  and  on  the  well-greaved  Achaians. 
Then  took  they  their  stand  near  together  in  the  measured 
space,  brandishing  their  spears  in  wrath  each  against  other. 
First  Alexandres  hurled  his  far-shadowing  spear,  and  smote 
on  Atreides'  round  shield;  but  the  bronze  brake  not  through, 
for  its  point  was  turned  in  the  stout  shield.  Next  Menelaos 
son  of  Atreus  lifted  up  his  hand  to  cast,  and  made  prayer  to 
father  Zeus:  "King  Zeus,  grant  me  revenge  on  him  that  was 
first  to  do  me  wrong,  even  on  goodly  Alexandres,  and  subdue 
thou  him  at  my  hands ;  so  that  many  an  one  of  men  that  shall 
be  hereafter  may  shudder  to  wrong  his  host  that  hath  shown 
him  kindness." 

So  said  he,  and  poised  his  far-shadowing  spear,  and  hurled, 
and  smote  on  the  round  shield  of  the  son  of  Priam.  Through 
the  bright  shield  went  the  ponderous  spear  and  through  the 
inwrought  breastplate  it  pressed  on;  and  straight  beside  his 
flank  the  spear  rent  the  tunic,  but  he  swerved  and  escaped  black 
death.  Then  Atreides  drew  his  silver-studded  sword,  and 
lifted  up  his  hand  and  smote  the  helmet-ridge;  but  the  sword 
shattered  upon  it  into  three,  yea  four,  and  fell  from  his  hand. 
Thereat  Atreides  looked  up  to  the  wide  heaven  and  cried : 
"Father  Zeus,  surely  none  of  the  gods  is  crueller  than  thou. 
Verily  I  thought  to  have  gotten  vengeance  on  Alexandres  for 
his  wickedness,  but  new  my  sword  breaketh  in  my  hand,  and 
my  spear  sped  from  my  grasp  in  vain,  and  I  have  not  smitten 
him." 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   III  79 

So  saying,  he  leapt  upon  him  and  caught  him  by  his  horse- 
hair crest,  and  swinging  him  round  dragged  him  towards  the 
well-greaved  Achaians ;  and  he  was  strangled  by  the  embroid- 
ered strap  beneath  his  soft  throat,  drawn  tight  below  his  chin 
to  hold  his  helm.  Now  would  Menelaos  have  dragged  him 
away  and  won  glory  unspeakable,  but  that  Zeus'  daughter 
Aphrodite  was  swift  to  mark,  and  tore  asunder  for  him  the 
strap  of  slaughtered  ox's  hide ;  so  the  helmet  came  away  empty 
in  his  stalwart  hand.  Thereat  Menelaos  cast  it  with  a  swing 
toward  the  well-greaved  Achaians,  and  his  trusty  comrades 
took  it  up;  and  himself  sprang  back  again  eager  to  slay  him 
with  spear  of  bronze.  But  Aphrodite  snatched  up  Paris,  very 
easily  as  a  goddess  may,  and  hid  him  in  thick  darkness,  and 
set  him  down  in  his  fragrant  perfumed  chamber;  and  herself 
went  to  summon  Helen.  Her  she  found  on  the  high  tower, 
and  about  her  the  Trojan  women  thronged.  So  with  her  hand 
she  plucked  her  perfumed  raiment  and  shook  it  and  spake  to 
her  in  the  likeness  of  an  aged  dame,  a  woolcomber  that  was 
wont  to  work  for  her  fair  wool  when  she  dwelt  in  Lakedaimon, 
whom  too  she  greatly  loved.  Even  in  her  likeness  fair  Aphro- 
dite spake:  "Come  hither;  Alexandres  summoneth  thee  to 
go  homeward.  There  is  he  in  his  chamber  and  inlaid  bed, 
radiant  in  beauty  and  vesture ;  nor  wouldst  thou  deem  him  to 
be  come  from  fighting  his  foe,  but  rather  to  be  faring  to  the 
dance,  or  from  the  dance  to  be  just  resting  and  set  down." 

So  said  she,  and  stirred  Helen's  soul  within  her  breast; 
and  when  now  she  marked  the  fair  neck  and  lovely  breast  and 
sparkling  eyes  of  the  goddess,  she  marvelled  straightway  and 
spake  a  word  and  called  upon  her  name :  "Strange  queen,  why 
art  thou  desirous  now  to  beguile  me?  Verily  thou  wilt  lead 
me  further  on  to  some  one  of  the  peopled  cities  of  Phrygia  or 
lovely  Maionia,  if  there  too  thou  hast  perchance  some  other 
darling  among  mortal  men,  because  even  now  Menelaos  hath 
conquered  goodly  Alexandres,  and  will  lead  me,  accursed  me, 
to  his  home.  Therefore  thou  comest  hither  with  guileful  in- 
tent. Go  and  sit  thou  by  his  side,  and  depart  from  the  way 
of  the  gods ;  neither  let  thy  feet  ever  bear  thee  back  to  Olym- 
pus, but  still  be  vexed  for  his  sake  and  guard  him  till  he  make 
thee  his  wife  or  perchance  his  slave.     But  thither  will  I  not 


80  HOAIER 

go — that  were  a  sinful  thing — to  array  the  bed  of  him;  all  the 
women  of  Troy  will  blame  me  hereafter;  and  I  have  griefs  un- 
told within  my  soul." 

Then  in  wrath  bright  Aphrodite  spake  to  her:  "Provoke 
me  not,  rash  woman,  lest  in  mine  anger  I  desert  thee,  and  hate 
thee  even  as  now  I  love  thee  beyond  measure,  and  lest  I  devise 
grievous  enmities  between  both,  even  betwixt  Trojans  and 
Achaians,  and  so  thou  perish  in  evil  wise." 

So  said  she,  and  Helen  sprung  of  Zeus  was  afraid,  and 
went  wrapped  in  her  bright  radiant  vesture,  silently,  and  the 
Trojan  women  marked  her  not ;  and  the  goddess  led  the  way. 

Now  when  they  were  come  to  the  beautiful  house  of  Alex- 
/andros  the  handmaidens  turned  straightway  to  their  tasks,  and 
the  fair  lady  went  to  the  high-roofed  chamber;  and  laughter- 
loving  Aphrodite  took  for  her  a  chair  and  brought  it,  even  she 
the  goddess,  and  set  it  before  the  face  of  Paris.  There  Helen 
took  her  seat,  the  child  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  and  with  eyes 
turned  askance  spake  and  chode  her  lord :  "Thou  comest  back 
from  battle;  would  thou  hadst  perished  there,  vanquished  of 
that  great  warrior  that  was  my  former  husband.  Verily  it 
was  once  thy  boast  that  thou  wast  a  better  man  than  Menelaos 
dear  to  Ares,  in  the  might  of  thine  arm  and  thy  spear.  But 
go,  now,  challenge  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares  to  fight  thee  again 
face  to  face.  Nay,  but  I,  even  I,  bid  thee  refrain,  nor  fight  a 
fight  with  golden-haired  Menelaos  man  to  man,  neither  attack 
him  recklessly,  lest  perchance  thou  fall  to  his  spear  anon." 

And  Paris  made  answer  to  her  and  said:  "Chide  not  my 
soul,  lady,  with  cruel  taunts.  For  now  indeed  hath  Menelaos 
vanquished  me  with  Athene's  aid,  but  another  day  may  I  do 
so  unto  him ;  for  we  too  have  gods  with  us.  But  come  now, 
let  us  have  joy  of  love  upon  our  couch ;  for  never  yet  hath  love 
so  enwrapped  my  heart — not  even  then  when  first  I  snatched 
thee  from  lovely  Lakedaimon  and  sailed  with  thee  on  my  sea- 
faring ships,  and  in  the  isle  of  Kranae  had  converse  with  thee 
upon  thy  couch  in  love — as  I  love  thee  now  and  sweet  desire 
taketh  hold  upon  me."  So  saying  he  led  the  way  to  the  couch, 
and  the  lady  followed  with  him. 

Thus  laid  they  them  upon  their  fretted  couch ;  but  Atreides 
the  while  strode  through  the  host  like  to  a  wild  beast,  if  any- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   III  81 

where  he  might  set  eyes  on  godlike  Alexandros.  But  none  of 
the  Trojans  or  their  famed  alHes  could  discover  Alexandros 
to  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares.  Yet  surely  did  they  in  no  wise  hide 
him  for  kindliness,  could  any  have  seen  him ;  for  he  was  hated 
of  all  even  as  black  death.  So  Agamemnon  king  of  men  spake 
among  them  there :  "Hearken  to  me,  Trojans  and  Dardanians 
and  allies.  Now  is  victory  declared  for  Menelaos  dear  to 
Ares;  give  ye  back  Helen  of  Argos  and  the  possessions  with 
her,  and  pay  ye  the  recompense  such  as  is  seemly,  that  it  may 
live  even  among  men  that  shall  be  hereafter."  So  said 
Atreides,  and  all  the  Achaians  gave  assent. 


BOOK  IV 

How  Pandaros  wounded  Menelaos  by  treachery;  and  Agamemnon 
exhorted  his  chief  captains  to  battle. 

Now  the  gods  sat  by  Zeus  and  held  assembly  on  the  golden 
floor,  and  in  the  midst  the  lady  Hebe  poured  them  their  nectar : 
they  with  golden  goblets  pledged  one  another,  and  gazed  upon 
the  city  of  the  Trojans.  Then  did  Kronos'  son  essay  to  pro- 
voke Hera  with  vexing  words,  and  spake  maliciously :  "Twain 
goddesses  hath  Menelaos  for  his  helpers,  even  Hera  of  Argos 
and  Alalkomenean  Athene,  Yet  these  sit  apart  and  take  their 
pleasure  in  beholding;  but  beside  that  other  ever  standeth 
laughter-loving  Aphrodite  and  wardeth  off  fate  from  him, 
and  now  hath  she  saved  him  as  he  thought  to  perish.  But  of 
a  truth  the  victory  is  to  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares ;  so  let  us  take 
thought  how  these  things  shall  be ;  whether  once  more  we  shall 
arouse  ill  war  and  the  dread  battle-din,  or  put  friendship  be- 
tween the  foes.  Moreover  if  this  were  welcome  to  all  and  well 
pleasing,  may  the  city  of  king  Priam  yet  be  an  habitation,  and 
Menelaos  take  back  Helen  of  Argos." 

So  said  he,  but  Athene  and  Hera  murmured  thereat,  who 
were  sitting  by  him  and  devising  ills  for  the  Trojans.  Now 
Athene  held  her  peace  and  said  not  anything,  for  wrath  at 


82  HOMER 

father  Zeus,  and  fierce  anger  gat  hold  upon  her:  but  Hera's 
breast  contained  not  her  anger,  and  she  spake:  "Most  dread 
son  of  Kronos,  what  word  is  this  thou  hast  spoken?  How 
hast  thou  the  will  to  make  my  labour  void  and  of  none  eflfect, 
and  the  sweat  of  my  toil  that  I  sweated,  when  my  horses  were 
wearied  with  my  summoning  of  the  host,  to  be  the  plague  of 
Priam  and  his  sons  ?  Do  as  thou  wilt ;  but  we  other  gods  do 
not  all  approve  thee." 

Then  in  sore  anger  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  spake  to  her: 
"Good  lack,  how  have  Priam  and  Priam's  sons  done  thee  such 
great  wrong  that  thou  art  furiously  minded  to  sack  the  stab- 
lished  citadel  of  Ilios  ?  Perchance  wert  thou  to  enter  within  the 
gates  and  long  walls  and  devour  Priam  raw,  and  Priam's  sons 
and  all  the  Trojans,  then  mightest  thou  assuage  thine  anger. 
Do  as  thou  art  minded,  only  let  not  this  quarrel  hereafter  be 
to  me  and  thee  a  sore  strife  between  us  both.  And  this  more- 
over will  I  say  to  thee,  and  do  thou  lay  it  to  thy  heart ;  whene'er 
I  too  be  of  eager  mind  to  lay  waste  a  city  where  is  the  race  of 
men  that  are  dear  to  thee,  hinder  thou  not  my  wrath,  but  let 
me  be,  even  as  I  yield  to  thee  of  free  will,  yet  with  soul  unwill- 
ing. For  of  all  cities  beneath  sun  and  starry  heaven  that  are 
the  dwelling  of  mortal  men,  holy  Ilios  was  most  honoured  of 
my  heart,  and  Priam  and  the  folk  of  Priam  of  the  good  ashen 
spear.  For  never  did  mine  altar  lack  the  seemly  feast,  even 
drink-offering  and  burnt-offering,  the  worship  that  is  our  due." 

Then  Hera  the  ox-eyed  queen  made  answer  to  him:  "Of 
a  surety  three  cities  are  there  that  be  dearest  far  to  me,  Argos 
and  Sparta  and  wide-wayed  Mykene;  these  lay  thou  waste 
whene'er  they  are  found  hateful  to  thy  heart ;  not  for  them  will 
I  stand  forth,  nor  do  I  grudge  thee  them.  For  even  if  I  be 
jealous  and  would  forbid  thee  to  overthrow  them,  yet  will  my 
jealousy  not  avail,  seeing  that  thou  art  stronger  far  than  I. 
Still  must  my  labour  too  not  be  made  of  none  effect;  for  I 
also  am  a  god,  and  my  lineage  is  even  as  thine,  and  Kronos 
the  crooked  counsellor  begat  me  to  the  place  of  honour  in 
double  wise,  by  birthright,  and  because  I  am  named  thy  spouse, 
and  thou  art  king  among  all  the  immortals.  Let  us  indeed 
yield  each  to  other  herein,  I  to  thee  and  thou  to  me,  and  the 
rest  of  the  immortal  gods  will  follow  with  us;  and  do  thou 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  83 

with  speed  charge  Athene  to  betake  her  to  the  fierce  battle  din 
of  Trojans  and  Achaians,  and  to  essay  that  the  Trojans  may 
first  take  upon  them  to  do  violence  to  the  Achaians  in  their 
triumph,  despite  the  oaths." 

So  said  she,  and  the  father  of  men  and  gods  disregarded 
not;  forthwith  he  spake  to  Athene  winged  words:  "Betake 
thee  with  all  speed  to  the  host,  to  the  midst  of  Trojans  and 
Achaians,  and  essay  that  the  Trojans  may  first  take  upon  them 
to  do  violence  to  the  Achaians  in  their  triumph,  despite  the 
oaths."  V 

So  spake  he,  and  roused  Athene  that  already  was  set  there- 
on; and  from  Olympus'  heights  she  darted  down.  Even  as 
the  son  of  Kronos  the  crooked  counsellor  sendeth  a  star,  a  por- 
tent for  mariners  or  a  wide  host  of  men,  bright  shining,  and 
therefrom  are  scattered  sparks  in  multitude ;  even  in  such  guise 
sped  Pallas  Athene  to  earth,  and  leapt  into  their  midst;  and 
astonishment  came  on  them  that  beheld,  on  horse-taming  Tro- 
jans and  well-greaved  Achaians.  And  thus  would  many  an 
one  say,  looking  at  his  neighbour:  "Of  a  surety  either  shall 
sore  war  and  the  fierce  battle  din  return  again;  or  else  Zeus 
doth  stablish  peace  between  the  foes,  even  he  that  is  men's 
dispenser  of  battle." 

Thus  would  many  an  one  of  Achaians  and  Trojans  say. 
Then  the  goddess  entered  the  throng  of  Trojans  in  the  like- 
ness of  a  man,  even  Antenor's  son  Laodokos,  a  stalwart  war- 
rior, and  sought  for  godlike  Pandaros,  if  haply  she  might  find 
him.  Lykaon's  son  found  she,  the  noble  and  stalwart,  standing, 
and  about  him  the  stalwart  ranks  of  the  shield-bearing  host 
that  followed  him  from  the  streams  of  Aisepos.  So  she  came 
near  and  spake  winged  words  :  "Wilt  thou  now  hearken  to  me, 
thou  wise  son  of  Lykaon?  Then  wouldst  thou  take  heart  to 
shoot  a  swift  arrow  at  Menelaos,  and  wouldst  win  favour  and 
glory  before  all  the  Trojans,  and  before  king  Alexandros  most 
of  all.  Surely  from  him  first  of  any  wouldst  thou  receive 
glorious  gifts,  if  perchance  he  see  Menelaos,  Atreus'  warrior 
son,  vanquished  by  thy  dart  and  brought  to  the  grievous  pyre. 
Go  to  now,  shoot  at  glorious  Menelaos,  and  vow  to  Apollo, 
the  son  of  light,  the  lord  of  archery,  to  sacrifice  a  goodly  heca- 


84  HOMER 

tomb  of  firstling  lambs  when  thou  art  returned  to  thy  home, 
in  the  city  of  holy  Zeleia." 

So  spake  Athene,  and  persuaded  his  fool's  heart.  Forth- 
with he  unsheathed  his  polished  bow  of  horn  of  a  wild  ibex 
that  he  himself  had  erst  smitten  beneath  the  breast  as  it 
came  forth  from  a  rock,  the  while  he  awaited  in  a  lurking- 
place;  and  had  pierced  it  in  the  chest,  so  that  it  fell  backward 
on  the  rock.  Now  from  its  head  sprang  there  horns  of  sixteen 
palms;  these  the  artificer,  even  the  worker  in  horn,  joined  cun- 
ningly together,  and  polished  them  all  well  and  set  the  tip  of 
gold  thereon.  So  he  laid  it  down  when  he  had  well  strung  it, 
by  resting  it  upon  the  ground ;  and  his  staunch  comrades  held 
their  shields  before  him,  lest  the  warrior  sons  of  the  Achaians 
should  first  set  on  them,  ere  Menelaos,  Atreus'  warrior  son, 
were  smitten.  Then  opened  he  the  lid  of  his  quiver  and  took 
forth  a  feathered  arrow,  never  yet  shot,  a  source  of  grievous 
pangs;  and  anon  he  laid  the  bitter  dart  upon  the  string  and 
vowed  to  Apollo,  the  son  of  light,  the  lord  of  archery,  to  sacri- 
fice a  goodly  hecatomb  of  firstling  lambs  when  he  should  have 
returned  to  his  home  in  the  city  of  holy  Zeleia.  Then  he  took 
the  notch  and  string  of  oxes'  sinew  together,  and  drew,  bring- 
ing to  his  breast  the  string,  and  to  the  bow  the  iron  head.  So 
when  he  had  now  bent  the  great  bow  into  a  round,  the  horn 
twanged,  and  the  string  sang  aloud,  and  the  keen  arrow  leapt 
eager  to  wing  his  way  amid  the  throng. 

But  the  blessed  gods  immortal  f orgat  not  thee,  Menelaos ; 
and  before  all  the  daughter  of  Zeus,  the  driver  of  the  spoil, 
who  stood  before  thee  and  warded  off  the  piercing  dart.  She 
turned  it  just  aside  from  the  flesh,  even  as  a  mother  driveth 
a  fly  from  her  child  that  lieth  in  sweet  slumber ;  and  with  her 
own  hand  guided  it  where  the  golden  buckles  of  the  belt  were 
clasped  and  the  doubled  breastplate  met  them.  So  the  bitter 
arrow  lighted  upon  the  firm  belt;  through  the  inwrought  belt 
it  sped  and  through  the  curiously  wrought  breastplate  it  pressed 
on  and  through  the  taslet'  he  wore  to  shield  his  flesh,  a  barrier 
against  darts ;  and  this  best  shielded  him,  yet  it  passed  on  even 
through  this.     Then  did  the  arrow  graze  the  warrior's  puter- 


^  An  apron  or  belt  set  with  metal,  worn  below  the  corslet. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  85 

most  flesh,  and  forthwith  the  dusky  blood  flowed  from  the 
wound. 

As  when  some  woman  of  Maionia  or  Karia  staineth  ivory 
with  purple,  to  make  a  cheek-piece  for  horses,  and  it  is  laid  up 
in  the  treasure  chamber,  and  many  a  horseman  prayeth  for  it 
to  wear;  but  it  is  laid  up  to  be  a  king's  boast,  alike  an  adorn- 
ment for  his  horse  and  a  glory  for  his  charioteer ;  even  in  such 
wise  Menelaos,  were  thy  shapely  thighs  stained  with  blood  and 
thy  legs  and  thy  fair  ankles  beneath. 

Thereat  shuddered  Agamemnon  king  of  men  when  he  saw 
the  black  blood  flowing  from  the  wound.  And  Menelaos  dear 
to  Ares  likewise  shuddered ;  but  when  he  saw  how  thread'  and 
barbs  were  without,  his  spirit  was  gathered  in  his  breast  again. 
Then  lord  Agamemnon  moaned  deep,  and  spake  among  them, 
holding  Menelaos  by  the  hand ;  and  his  comrades  made  moan 
the  while:  "Dear  brother,  to  thy  death,  meseemeth,  pledged  I 
these  oaths,  setting  thee  forth  to  fight  the  Trojans  alone  before 
the  face  of  the  Achaians ;  seeing  that  the  Trojans  have  so  smit- 
ten thee,  and  trodden  under  foot  the  trusty  oaths.  Yet  in  no 
wise  is  an  oath  of  none  effect,  and  the  blood  of  lambs  and 
pure  drink-offerings  and  the  right  hands  of  fellowship  wherein 
we  trusted.  For  even  if  the  Olympian  bring  not  about  the  ful- 
filment forthwith,  yet  doth  he  fulfil  at  last,  and  men  make  dear 
amends,  even  with  their  own  heads  and  their  wives  and  little 
ones.  Yea  of  a  surety  I  know  this  in  heart  and  soul ;  the  day 
shall  come  for  holy  Ilios  to  be  laid  low,  and  Priam  and  the  folk 
of  Priam  of  the  good  ashen  spear;  and  Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos 
enthroned  on  high,  that  dwelleth  in  the  heaven,  himself  shall 
brandish  over  them  all  his  lowring  aegis,  in  indignation  at  this 
deceit.  Then  shall  all  this  not  be  void;  yet  shall  I  have  sore 
sorrow  for  thee,  Menelaos,  if  thou  die  and  fulfil  the  lot  of 
life.  Yea  in  utter  shame  should  I  return  to  thirsty  Argos, 
seeing  that  the  Achaians  will  forthwith  bethink  them  of  their 
native  land,  and  so  should  we  leave  to  Priam  and  the  Trojans 
their  boast,  even  Helen  of  Argos.  And  the  earth  shall  rot 
thy  bones  as  thou  liest  in  Troy  with  thy  task  unfinished :  and 
thus  shall  many  an  overweening  Trojan  say  as  he  leapeth  upon 


'  By  which  the  iron  head  was  attached  to  the  shaft. 


86  HOMER 

the  tomb  of  glorious  Menelaos :  'Would  to  God  Agamemnon 
might  so  fulfil  his  wrath  in  every  matter,  even  as  now  he  led 
hither  the  host  of  the  Achaians  for  naught,  and  hath  gone 
home  again  to  his  dear  native  land  with  empty  ships  and  hath 
left  noble  Menelaos  behind.'  Thus  shall  men  say  hereafter :  in 
that  day  let  the  wide  earth  gape  for  me." 

But  golden-haired  Menelaos  encouraged  him  and  said: 
"Be  of  good  courage,  neither  dismay  at  all  the  host  of  the 
Achaians.  The  keen  dart  lighted  not  upon  a  deadly  spot ;  my 
glistering  belt  in  front  stayed  it,  and  the  kirtle  of  mail  beneath, 
and  the  taslet  that  the  coppersmiths  fashioned." 

Then  lord  Agamemnon  answered  him  and  said:  "Would 
it  may  be  so,  dear  Menelaos.  But  the  leech  shall  feel  the 
wound,  and  lay  thereon  drugs  that  shall  assuage  thy  dire 
pangs." 

So  saying  he  spake  to  godlike  Talthybios,  his  herald: 
"Talthybios,  with  all  speed  call  Machaon  hither,  the  hero  son 
of  Asklepios  the  noble  leech,  to  see  Menelaos,  Atreus'  warrior 
son,  whom  one  well  skilled  in  archery,  some  Trojan  or  Lykian, 
hath  wounded  with  a  bow-shot,  to  his  glory  and  our  grief." 

So  said  he,  and  the  herald  heard  him  and  disregarded 
not,  and  went  his  way  through  the  host  of  mail-clad  Achaians 
to  spy  out  the  hero  Machaon.  Him  he  found  standing,  and 
about  him  the  stalwart  ranks  of  the  shield-bearing  host  that 
followed  him  from  Trike,  pasture  land  of  horses.  So  he  came 
near  and  spake  his  winged  words:  "Arise,  thou  son  of  Ask- 
lepios. Lord  Agamemnon  calleth  thee  to  see  Menelaos,  captain 
of  the  Achaians,  whom  one  well  skilled  in  archery,  some  Tro- 
jan or  Lykian,  hath  wounded  with  a  bow-shot,  to  his  glory  and 
our  grief." 

So  saying  he  aroused  his  spirit  in  his  breast,  and  they  went 
their  way  amid  the  throng,  through  the  wide  host  of  the  Acha- 
ians. And  when  they  were  now  come  where  was  golden-haired 
Menelaos  wounded,  and  all  as  many  as  were  chieftains  gath- 
ered around  him  in  a  circle,  the  godlike  hero  came  and  stood 
in  their  midst,  and  anon  drew  forth  the  arrow  from  the 
clasped  belt;  and  as  it  was  drawn  forth  the  keen  barbs  were 
broken  backwards.  Then  he  loosed  the  glistering  belt  and 
the  kirtle  of  mail  beneath  and  taslet  that  the  coppersmiths 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  87 

fashioned ;  and  when  he  saw  the  wound  where  the  bitter  arrow 
had  Hghted,  he  sucked  out  the  blood  and  cunningly  spread 
thereon  soothing  drugs,  such  as  Cheiron  of  his  good  will  had 
imparted  to  his  sire. 

While  these  were  tending  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry, 
the  ranks  of  shield-bearing  Trojans  came  on ;  so  the  Achaians 
donned  their  arms  again,  and  bethought  them  of  the  fray. 
Now  wouldest  thou  not  see  noble  Agamemnon  slumbering, 
nor  cowering,  nor  unready  to  fight,  but  very  eager  for  glori- 
ous battle.  He  left  his  horses  and  his  chariot  adorned  with 
bronze;  and  his  squire,  even  Eurymedon  son  of  Ptolemaios 
Peiraieus'  son,  kept  apart  the  snorting  steeds;  and  he  straitly 
charged  him  to  have  them  at  hand  whenever  weariness  should 
come  upon  his  limbs  with  marshalling  so  many;  and  thus  on 
foot  ranged  he  through  the  ranks  of  warriors.  And  whomso- 
ever of  all  the  fleet-horsed  Danaans  he  found  eager,  he  stood 
by  them  and  by  his  words  encouraged  them:  "Ye  Argives, 
relax  not  in  any  wise  your  impetuous  valour;  for  father  Zeus 
will  be  no  helper  of  liars,  but  as  these  were  first  to  transgress 
against  the  oaths,  so  shall  their  own  tender  flesh  be  eaten  of 
the  vultures,  and  we  shall  bear  away  their  dear  wives  and  lit- 
tle children  in  our  ships,  when  once  we  take  the  stronghold." 

But  whomsoever  he  found  shrinking  from  hateful  battle, 
these  he  chode  sore  with  angry  words:  "Ye  Argives,  war- 
riors of  the  bow,  ye  men  of  dishonour,  have  ye  no  shame? 
Why  stand  ye  thus  dazed  like  fawns  that  are  weary  with 
running  over  the  long  plain  and  so  stand  still,  and  no  valour 
is  found  in  their  hearts  at  all?  Even  thus  stand  ye  dazed, 
and  fight  not.  Is  it  that  ye  wait  for  the  Trojans  to  come  near 
where  your  good  ships'  sterns  are  drawn  upon  the  shore  of 
the  grey  sea,  to  see  if  Kronion  will  stretch  his  arm  over  you 
indeed?" 

So  masterfully  ranged  he  through  the  ranks  of  warriors. 
Then  came  he  to  the  Cretans  as  he  went  through  the  throng 
of  warriors;  and  these  were  taking  arms  around  wise  Ido- 
meneus;  Idomeneus  amid  the  foremost,  valiant  as  a  wild 
boar,  and  Meriones  the  while  was  hastening  his  hindermost 
battalions.  Then  Agamemnon  king  of  men  rejoiced  to  see 
them,  and  anon  spake  to  Idomeneus    with    kindly    words: 


88  HOMER 

"Idomeneus,  more  than  all  the  fleet-horsed  Danaans  do  I 
honour  thee,  whether  in  war  or  in  task  of  other  sort  or  in 
the  feast,  when  the  chieftains  of  the  Argives  mingle  in  the 
bowl  the  gleaming  wine  of  the  counsellors.  For  even  though 
all  the  other  flowing-haired  Achaians  drink  one  allotted  por- 
tion, yet  thy  cup  standeth  ever  full  even  as  mine,  to  drink 
as  oft  as  thy  soul  biddeth  thee.  Now  arouse  thee  to  war 
like  such  an  one  as  thou  avowest  thyself  to  be  of  old." 

And  Idomeneus  the  captain  of  the  Cretans  made  answer 
to  him:  "Atreides,  of  very  truth  will  I  be  to  thee  a  trusty 
comrade  even  as  at  the  first  I  promised  and  gave  my  pledge; 
but  do  thou  urge  on  all  the  flowing-haired  Achaians,  that  we 
may  fight  with  all  speed,  seeing  the  Trojans  have  disannulled 
the  oaths.  But  for  all  that  death  and  sorrow  hereafter  shall 
be  their  lot,  because  they  were  the  first  to  transgress  against 
the  oaths." 

So  said  he,  and  Agamemnon  passed  on  glad  at  heart. 
Then  came  he  to  the  Aiantes  as  he  went  through  the  throng 
of  warriors;  and  these  twain  were  arming,  and  a  cloud  of 
footmen  followed  with  them.  Even  as  when  a  goatherd  from 
a  place  of  outlook  seeth  a  cloud  coming  across  the  deep  before 
the  blast  of  the  west  wind;  and  to  him  being  afar  it  seemeth 
ever  blacker,  even  as  pitch,  as  it  goeth  along  the  deep,  and 
bringeth  a  great  whirlwind,  and  he  shuddereth  to  see  it  and 
driveth  his  flock  beneath  a  cave;  even  in  such  wise  moved 
the  serried  battalions  of  young  men,  the  fosterlings  of  Zeus, 
by  the  side  of  the  Aiantes  into  furious  war,  battalions  dark 
of  line,  bristling  with  shields  and  spears.  And  lord  Agamem- 
non rejoiced  to  see  them  and  spake  to  them  winged  words, 
and  said :  "Aiantes,  leaders  of  the  mail-clad  Argives,  to  you 
twain,  seeing  it  is  not  seemly  to  urge  you,  give  I  no  charge; 
for  of  your  own  selves  ye  do  indeed  bid  your  folk  to  fight 
amain.  Ah,  father  Zeus  and  Athene  and  Apollo,  would  that 
all  had  like  spirit  in  their  breasts ;  then  would  king  Priam's  city 
soon  bow  captive  and  wasted  beneath  our  hands." 

So  saying  he  left  them  there,  and  went  to  others.  Then 
found  he  Nestor,  the  clear-voiced  orator  of  the  Pylians,  array- 
ing his  comrades,  and  urging  them  to  fight,  around  great 
Pelagon  and  Alastor  and  Chromios  and  lord  Haimon  and 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  89 

Bias  shepherd  of  the  host.  And  first  he  arrayed  the  horse- 
men with  horses  and  chariots,  and  behind  them  the  footmen 
many  and  brave,  to  be  a  bulwark  of  battle;  but  the  cowards 
he  drave  into  the  midst,  that  every  man,  even  though  he 
would  not,  yet  of  necessity  must  fight.  First  he  laid  charge 
upon  the  horsemen;  these  he  bade  hold  in  their  horses  nor 
be  entangled  in  the  throng.  "Neither  let  any  man,  trusting 
in  his  horsemanship  and  manhood,  be  eager  to  fight  the 
Trojans  alone  before  the  rest,  nor  yet  let  him  draw  back, 
for  so  will  ye  be  enfeebled.  But  whensoever  a  warrior  from 
the  place  of  his  own  car  can  come  at  a  chariot  of  the  foe, 
let  him  thrust  forth  with  his  spear;  even  so  is  the  far  better 
way.  Thus  moreover  did  men  of  old  time  lay  low  cities  and 
walls,  because  they  had  this  mind  and  spirit  in  their  breasts." 

So  did  the  old  man  charge  them,  being  well  skilled  of 
yore  in  battles.  And  lord  Agamemnon  rejoiced  to  see  him, 
and  spake  to  him  winged  words,  and  said:  "Old  man,  would 
to  god  that,  even  as  thy  spirit  is  in  thine  own  breast,  thy 
limbs  might  obey  and  thy  strength  be  unabated.  But  the 
common  lot  of  age  is  heavy  upon  thee;  would  that  it  had 
come  upon  some  other  man,  and  thou  wert  amid  the  young." 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  him:  "Atreides, 
I  verily,  even  I  too,  would  wish  to  be  as  on  the  day  when  I 
slew  noble  Ereuthalion.  But  the  gods  in  no  wise  grant  men 
all  things  at  once.  As  I  was  then  a  youth,  so  doth  old  age 
now  beset  me.  Yet  even  so  will  I  abide  among  the  horsemen 
and  urge  them  by  counsel  and  words ;  for  that  is  the  right  of 
elders.  But  the  young  men  shall  wield  the  spear,  they  that  are 
more  youthful  than  I  and  have  confidence  in  their  strength." 

So  spake  he,  and  Atreides  passed  on  glad  at  heart.  He 
found  Menestheus  the  charioteer,  the  son  of  Peteos,  standing 
still,  and  round  him  were  the  Athenians,  masters  of  the 
battle-cry.  And  hard  by  stood  crafty  Odysseus,  and  round 
about  him  the  ranks  of  Kephallenians,  no  feeble  folk,  stood 
still;  for  their  host  had  not  yet  heard  the  battle-cry,  seeing 
the  battalions  of  horse-taming  Trojans  and  Achaians  had  but 
just  bestirred  them  to  move;  so  these  stood  still  tarrying  till 
some  other  column  of  the  Achaians  should  advance  to  set  upon 
the  Trojans  and  begin  the  battle.     But  when  Agamemnon 


90  HOMER 

king  of  men  saw  it,  he  upbraided  them,  and  spake  to  them 
winged  words,  saying:  "O  son  of  king  Peteos  fosterling  of 
Zeus,  and  thou  skilled  in  evil  wiles,  thou  cunning  of  mind, 
why  stand  ye  shrinking  apart,  and  tarry  for  others?  You 
beseemeth  it  to  stand  in  your  place  amid  the  foremost  and 
to  front  the  fiery  battle;  for  ye  are  the  first  to  hear  my 
bidding  to  the  feast,  as  oft  as  we  Achaians  prepare  a  feast 
for  the  counsellors.  Then  are  ye  glad  to  eat  roast  meat  and 
drink  your  cups  of  honey-sweet  wine  as  long  as  ye  will.  But 
now  would  ye  gladly  behold  it,  yea,  if  ten  columns  of  Achaians 
in  front  of  you  were  fighting  with  the  pitiless  sword." 

But  Odysseus  of  many  counsels  looked  fiercely  at  him  and 
said :  "Atreides,  what  word  is  this  that  hath  escaped  the 
barrier  of  thy  lips?  How  sayest  thou  that  we  are  slack  in 
battle?  When  once  our  Achaians  launch  furious  war  on  the 
Trojans,  tamers  of  horses,  then  shalt  thou,  if  thou  wilt,  and 
if  thou  hast  any  care  therefor,  behold  Telemachos'  dear  father 
mingling  with  the  champions  of  the  Trojans,  the  tamers  of 
horses.    But  that  thou  sayest  is  empty  as  air." 

Then  lord  Agamemnon  spake  to  him  smiling,  seeing  how 
he  was  wroth,  and  took  back  his  saying:  "Heaven-sprung 
son  of  Laertes,  Odysseus  full  of  devices,  neither  do  I  chide 
thee  beyond  measure  nor  urge  thee;  for  I  know  that  thy 
heart  within  thy  breast  is  kindly  disposed ;  for  thy  thoughts  are 
as  my  thoughts.  Go  to,  we  will  make  amends  hereafter,  if 
any  ill  word  hath  been  spoken  now;  may  the  gods  bring 
it  all  to  none  effect." 

So  saying  he  left  them  there  and  went  on  to  others.  The 
son  of  Tydeus  found  he,  high-hearted  Diomedes,  standing 
still  with  horses  and  chariot  well  compact;  and  by  him  stood 
Sthenelos  son  of  Kapaneus.  Him  lord  Agamemnon  saw  and 
upbraided,  and  spake  to  him  winged  words,  and  said:  "Ah 
me,  thou  son  of  wise  Tydeus  tamer  of  horses,  why  shrinkest 
thou,  why  gazest  thou  at  the  highways  of  the  battle?  Not  thus 
was  Tydeus  wont  to  shrink,  but  rather  to  fight  his  enemies 
far  in  front  of  his  dear  comrades,  as  they  say  that  beheld 
him  at  the  task;  for  never  did  I  meet  him  nor  behold  him,  but 
men  say  that  he  was  preeminent  amid  all.  Of  a  truth  he  came 
to  Mykene,  not  in  enmity,  but  as  a  guest  with  godlike  Poly- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  91 

neikes,  to  raise  him  an  army  for  the  war  that  they  were  levying 
against  the  holy  walls  of  Thebes ;  and  they  besought  earnestly 
that  valiant  allies  might  be  given  them,  and  our  folk  were 
fain  to  grant  them  and  made  assent  to  their  entreaty,  only 
Zeus  showed  omens  of  ill  and  turned  their  minds.  So  when 
these  were  departed  and  were  come  on  their  way,  and  had 
attained  to  Asopos  deep  in  rushes,  that  maketh  his  bed  in 
grass,  there  did  the  Achaians  appoint  Tydeus  to  be  their 
ambassador.  So  he  went  and  found  the  multitude  of  the  sons 
of  Kadmos  feasting  in  the  palace  of  mighty  Eteokles.  Yet 
was  knightly  Tydeus,  even  though  a  stranger,  not  afraid,  being 
alone  amid  the  multitude  of  the  Kadmeians,  but  challenged 
them  all  to  feats  of  strength,  and  in  every  one  vanquished 
he  them  easily;  so  present  a  helper  was  Athene  unto  him. 
But  the  Kadmeians,  the  urgers  of  horses,  were  wroth,  and  as 
he  fared  back  again  they  brought  and  set  a  strong  ambush, 
even  fifty  young  men,  whose  leaders  were  twain,  Maion  son 
of  Haimon,  like  to  the  immortals,  and  Autophonos'  son  Poly- 
phontes  staunch  in  battle.  Still  even  on  these  Tydeus  brought 
shameful  death;  he  slew  them  all,  save  one  that  he  sent  home 
alone;  Maion  to  wit  he  sent  away  in  obedience  to  the  omens 
of  heaven.  Such  was  Tydeus  of  Aitolia;  but  he  begat  a  son 
that  in  battle  is  worse  than  he;  only  in  harangue  is  he  the 
better." 

So  said  he,  and  stalwart  Diomedes  made  no  answer,  but 
had  respect  to  the  chiding  of  the  king  revered.  But  the 
son  of  glorious  Kapaneus  answered  him:  "Atreides,  utter 
not  falsehood,  seeing  thou  knowest  how  to  speak  truly.  We 
avow  ourselves  to  be  better  men  by  far  than  our  fathers  were : 
we  did  take  the  seat  of  Thebes  the  seven  gated,  though  we 
led  a  scantier  host  against  a  stronger  wall,  because  we  followed 
the  omens  of  the  gods  and  the  salvation  of  Zeus;  but  they 
perished  by  their  own  iniquities.  Do  not  thou  therefore  in 
any  wise  have  our  fathers  in  like  honour  with  us." 

But  stalwart  Diomedes  looked  sternly  at  him,  and  said: 
"Brother,  sit  silent  and  obey  my  saying.  I  grudge  not  that 
Agamemnon  shepherd  of  the  host  should  urge  on  the  well- 
greaved  Achaians  to  fight;  for  him  the  glory  will  attend  if 
the  Achaians  lay  the  Trojans  low  and  take  holy  Ilios;  and 


92  HOMER 

his  will  be  the  great  sorrow  if  the  Achaians  be  laid  low. 
Go  to  now,  let  us  too  bethink  us  of  impetuous  valour." 

He  spake  and  leapt  in  his  armour  from  the  chariot  to 
earth,  and  terribly  rang  the  bronze  upon  the  chieftain's  breast 
as  he  moved;  thereat  might  fear  have  come  even  upon  one 
stout-hearted. 

As  when  on  the  echoing  beach  the  sea- wave  lifteth  up 
itself  in  close  array  before  the  driving  of  the  west  wind ;  out 
on  the  deep  doth  it  first  raise  its  head,  and  then  breaketh 
upon  the  land  and  belloweth  aloud  and  goeth  with  aching 
crest  about  the  promontories,  and  speweth  the  foaming  brine 
afar;  even  so  in  close  array  moved  the  battalions  of  the 
Danaans  without  pause  to  battle.  Each  captain  gave  his  men 
the  word,  and  the  rest  went  silently;  thou  wouldest  not  deem 
that  all  the  great  host  following  them  had  any  voice  within 
their  breasts;  in  silence  feared  they  their  captains.  On  every 
man  glittered  the  inwrought  armour  wherewith  they  went 
clad.  But  for  the  Trojans,  like  sheep  beyond  number  that 
stand  in  the  courtyard  of  a  man  of  great  substance  to  be 
milked  of  their  white  milk,  and  bleat  without  ceasing  to  hear 
their  lambs'  cry,  even  so  arose  the  clamour  of  the  Trojans 
through  the  wide  host.  For  they  had  not  all  like  speech  nor 
one  language,  but  their  tongues  were  mingled,  and  they  were 
brought  from  many  lands.  These  were  urged  on  of  Ares, 
and  those  of  bright-eyed  Athene,  and  Terror  and  Rout,  and 
Strife  whose  fury  wearieth  not,  sister  and  friend  of  murderous 
Ares;  her  crest  is  but  lowly  at  the  first,  but  afterward  she 
holdeth  up  her  head  in  heaven  and  her  feet  walk  upon  the  earth. 
She  now  cast  common  discord  in  their  midst,  as  she  fared 
through  the  throng  and  made  the  lamentation  of  men  to  wax. 

Now  when  they  were  met  together  and  come  unto  one 
spot,  then  clashed  they  targe  and  spear  and  fury  of  bronze- 
clad  warrior;  the  bossed  shields  pressed  each  on  each  and 
mighty  din  arose.  Then  were  heard  the  voice  of  groaning 
and  the  voice  of  triumph  together  of  the  slayers  and  the 
slain,  and  the  earth  streamed  with  blood.  As  when  two 
winter  torrents  flow  down  the  mountains  to  a  watersmeet 
and  join  their  furious  flood  within  the  deep  ravine  from  their 
great  springs,  and  the  shepherd  heareth  the  roaring  far  off 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  93 

among  the  hills :  even  so  from  the  joining  of  battle  came  there 
forth  shouting  and  travail.  Antilochos  first  slew  a  Trojan 
warrior  in  full  array,  valiant  amid  the  champions,  Echepolos 
son  of  Thalysios;  him  was  he  first  to  smite  upon  the  ridge 
of  his  crested  helmet,  and  he  drave  the  spear  into  his  brow 
and  the  point  of  bronze  passed  within  the  bone;  darkness 
clouded  his  eyes,  and  he  crashed  like  a  tower  amid  the  press 
of  fight.  As  he  fell  lord  Elephenor  caught  him  by  the  foot, 
Chalkodon's  son,  captain  of  the  great-hearted  Abantes,  and 
dragged  him  from  beneath  the  darts,  eager  with  all  speed  to 
despoil  him  of  his  armour.  Yet  but  for  a  little  endured  his 
essay ;  great-hearted  Agenor  saw  him  haling  away  the  corpse, 
and  where  his  side  was  left  uncovered  of  his  buckler  as  he 
bowed  him  down,  there  smote  he  him  with  bronze-tipped  spear- 
shaft  and  unstrung  his  limbs.  So  his  life  departed  from  him, 
and  over  his  corpse  the  task  of  Trojans  and  Achaians  grew 
hot;  like  wolves  leapt  they  one  at  another,  and  man  lashed 
at  man. 

Next  Telamonian  Aias  smote  Anthemion's  son,  the  lusty, 
stripling  Simoeisios,  whom  erst  his  mother  bare  beside  the 
banks  of  Simoeis  on  the  way  down  from  Ida  whither  she  had 
followed  with  her  parents  to  see  their  flocks.  Therefore  they 
called  him  Simoeisios,  but  he  repaid  not  his  dear  parents  the 
recompense  of  his  nurture;  scanty  was  his  span  of  life  by 
reason  of  the  spear  of  great-hearted  Aias  that  laid  him  low. 
For  as  he  went  he  first  was  smitten  on  his  right  breast  beside 
the  pap;  straight  through  his  shoulder  passed  the  spear  of 
bronze,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground  in  the  dust  like  a  poplar- 
tree,  that  hath  grown  up  smooth  in  the  lowland  of  a  great 
marsh,  and  its  branches  grow  upon  the  top  thereof;  this  hath 
a  wainwright  felled  with  gleaming  steel,  to  bend  him  a  felloe 
for  a  goodly  chariot,  and  so  it  lies  drying  by  a  river's  banks. 
In  such  fashion  did  Heaven-sprung  Aias  slay  Simoeisios  son 
of  Anthemion;  then  at  him  Aptiphos  of  the  glancing  corslet, 
Priam's  son,  made  a  cast  with  his  keen  javelin  across  the 
throng.  Him  he  missed,  but  smote  Odysseus'  valiant  comrade 
Leukos  in  the  groin  as  he  drew  the  corpse  his  way,  so  that 
he  fell  upon  it  and  the  body  dropped  from  his  hands.  Then 
Odysseus  was  very  wroth  at  heart  for  the  slaying  of  him,  and 


94  HOMER 

vStrode  through  the  forefront  of  the  battle  harnessed  in  flashing 
bronze,  and  went  and  stood  hard  by  and  glanced  around  him, 
and  cast  his  bright  javelin;  and  the  Trojans  shrank  before  the 
casting  of  the  hero.  He  sped  not  the  dart  in  vain,  but  smote 
Demokoon,  Priam's  bastard  son  that  had  come  to  him  from 
tending  his  fleet  mares  in  Abydos.  Him  Odysseus,  being  wroth 
for  his  comrade's  sake,  smote  with  his  javelin  on  one  temple ; 
and  through  both  temples  passed  the  point  of  bronze,  and  dark- 
ness clouded  his  eyes,  and  he  fell  with  a  crash  and  his  armour 
clanged  upon  him.  Then  the  forefighters  and  glorious  Hector 
yielded,  and  the  Argives  shouted  aloud,  and  drew  the  bodies 
unto  them,  and  pressed  yet  further  onward.  But  Apollo  looked 
down  from  Pergamos,  and  had  indignation,  and  with  a  shout 
called  to  the  Trojans:  "Arise,  ye  Trojans,  tamers  of  horses; 
yield  not  to  the  Argives  in  fight ;  not  of  stone  nor  iron  is  their 
flesh,  that  it  should  resist  the  piercing  bronze  when  they 
are  smitten.  Moreover  Achilles,  son  of  Thetis  of  the  fair 
tresses,  fighteth  not,  but  amid  the  ships  broodeth  on  his  bit- 
ter anger." 

So  spake  the  dread  god  from  the  city;  and  the  Achaians 
likewise  were  urged  on  of  Zeus'  daughter  the  Triton-born, 
most  glorious,  as  she  passed  through  the  throng  wheresoever 
she  beheld  them  slackening. 

Next  was  Diores  son  of  Amarynkeus  caught  in  the  snare 
of  fate;  for  he  was  smitten  by  a  jagged  stone  on  the  right 
leg  hard  by  the  ankle,  and  the  caster  thereof  was  captain  of 
the  men  of  Thrace,  Peiroos  son  of  Imbrasos  that  had  come 
from  Ainos.  The  pitiless  stone  crushed  utterly  the  two  sinews 
and  the  bones;  back  fell  he  in  the  dust,  and  stretched 
out  both  his  hands  to  his  dear  comrades,  gasping  out  his 
soul.  Then  he  that  smote  him,  even  Peiroos,  sprang  at 
him  and  pierced  him  with  a  spear  beside  the  navel;  so  all 
his  bowels  gushed  forth  upon  the  ground,  and  darkness  clouded 
his  eyes.  But  even  as  Peiroos  departed  from  him  Thoas  of 
Aitolia  smote  with  a  spear  his  chest  above  the  pap,  and  the 
point  fixed  in  his  lung.  Then  Thoas  came  close,  and  plucked 
out  from  his  breast  the  ponderous  spear,  and  drew  his  sharp 
sword,  wherewith  he  smote  his  belly  in  the  midst,  and  took 
his  life.     Yet  he  stripped  not  off  his  armour;  for  his  com- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IV  95 

rades,  the  men  of  Thrace  that  wear  the  top-knot,  stood  around, 
their  long  spears  in  their  hands,  and  albeit  he  was  great  and 
valiant  and  proud  they  drave  him  off  from  them  and  he  gave 
ground  reeling.  So  were  the  two  captains  stretched  in  the 
dust  side  by  side,  he  of  the  Thracians  and  he  of  the  mail-clad 
Epeians ;  and  around  them  were  many  others  likewise  slain. 

Now  would  none  any  more  enter  in  and  make  light  of  the 
battle,  could  it  be  that  a  man  yet  unwounded  by  dart  or  thrust 
of  keen'  bronze  might  roam  in  the  midst,  being  led  of  Pallas 
Athene  by  the  hand,  and  by  her  guarded  from  the  flying 
shafts.  For  many  Trojans  that  day  and  many  Achaians  were 
laid  side  by  side  upon  their  faces  in  the  dust. 


BOOK  V 

How  Diomedes  by  his  great  valour  made  havoc  of  the  Trojans, 
and  wounded  even  Aphrodite  and  Ares  by  the  help  of  Athene. 

But  now  to  Tydeus'  son  Diomedes  Pallas  Athene  gave 
might  and  courage,  for  him  to  be  pre-eminent  amid  all  the 
Argives  and  win  glorious  renown.  She  kindled  flame  un- 
wearied from  his  helmet  and  shield,  like  to  the  star  of  sum- 
mer that  above  all  others  glittereth  bright  after  he  hath  bathed 
in  the  ocean  stream.  In  such  wise  kindled  she  flame  from 
his  head  and  shoulders  and  sent  him  into  the  midst,  where 
men  thronged  the  thickest. 

Now  there  was  amid  the  Trojans  one  Dares,  rich  and 
noble,  priest  of  Hephaistos;  and  he  had  two  sons,  Phegeus 
and  Idaios,  well  skilled  in  all  the  art  of  battle.  These  sepa- 
rated themselves  and  assailed  him  face  to  face,  they  setting 
on  him  from  their  car  and  he  on  foot  upon  the  ground.  And 
when  they  were  now  come  near  in  onset  on  each  other,  first 
Phegeus  hurled  his  far-shadowing  spear;  and  over  Tydeides' 
left  shoulder  the  spear  point  passed,  and  smote  not  his  body. 
Then  next  Tydeides  made  a  spear-cast,  and  the  javelin  sped 
not  from  his  hand  in  vain,  but  smote  his  breast  between  the 


96  HOMER 

nipples,  and  thrust  him  from  the  chariot.  So  Idaios  sprang 
away,  leaving  his  beautiful  car,  and  dared  not  to  bestride  his 
slain  brother;  else  had  neither  he  himself  escaped  black  fate; 
but  Hephaistos  guarded  him  and  saved  him  in  a  veil  of  dark- 
ness, that  he  might  not  have  his  aged  priest  all  broken  with 
sorrow.  And  the  son  of  great-hearted  Tydeus  drave  away 
the  horses  and  gave  them  to  his  men  to  take  to  the  hollow 
ships.  But  when  the  great-hearted  Trojans  beheld  the  sons 
of  Dares,  how  one  was  fled,  and  one  was  slain  beside  his 
chariot,  the  spirit  of  all  was  stirred.  But  bright-eyed  Athene 
took  impetuous  Ares  by  the  hand  and  spake  to  him  and  said : 
"Ares,  Ares,  blood-stained  bane  of  mortals,  thou  stormer  of 
walls,  can  we  not  now  leave  the  Trojans  and  Achaians  to 
fight,  on  whichsoever  it  be  that  father  Zeus  bestoweth  glory? 
But  let  us  twain  give  place,  and  escape  the  wrath  of  Zeus." 

So  saying  she  led  impetuous  Ares  from  the  battle.  Then 
she  made  him  sit  down  beside  loud  Skamandros,  and  the 
Danaans  pushed  the  Trojans  back.  Each  one  of  the  captains 
slew  his  man;  first  Agamemnon  king  of  men  thrust  from 
his  chariot  the  lord  of  the  Halizonians,  great  Odios ;  for  as  he 
first  turned  to  flight  Agamemnon  thrust  his  dart  into  his 
back  between  his  shoulders,  and  drave  it  through  his  breast. 
And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  his  armour  clanged  upon  him. 

And  Idomeneus  slew  Phaistos  son  of  Boros  the  Maionian, 
that  came  from  deep-soiled  Tarne.  Him  in  the  act  to  mount 
upon  his  car  spear-famed  Idomeneus  pierced  with  his  long 
dart  through  his  right  shoulder ;  and  he  fell  from  the  car  and 
hateful  darkness  got  hold  of  him. 

Him  then  Idomeneus'  squires  despoiled ;  and  Skamandrlos, 
son  of  Strophios,  cunning  in  the  chase,  fell  to  the  keen-pointed 
spear  of  Menelaos  son  of  Atreus;  even  he  the  mighty  hunter, 
whom  Artemis  herself  had  taught  to  shoot  all  manner  of  wild 
things  that  the  mountain  forest  breedetli.  But  now  did  Archer 
Artemis  avail  him  naught  nor  all  his  marksmanship  wherein 
of  old  time  he  excelled;  but  spear-famed  Menelaos  son  of 
Atreus  smote  him  with  his  dart  as  he  fled  before  him,  in 
his  back  between  his  shoulders,  and  pierced  through  his 
breast.     So  he  fell  prone  and  his  armour  clanged  upon  him. 

And  Meriones  slew  Phereklos,  son  of  Tekton  Harmon's 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  97 

son,  whose  hands  were  cunning  to  make  all  manner  of  curious 
work;  for  Pallas  Athene  loved  him  more  than  all  men.  He 
likewise  built  Alexandros  the  trim  ships,  source  of  ills,  that 
were  made  the  bane  of  all  the  Trojans  and  of  himself,  be- 
cause he  knew  not  the  oracles  of  heaven.  Him  Meriones  pur- 
sued, and  overtaking  him  smote  him  in  the  right  buttock,  and 
right  through  passed  the  point  straight  to  the  bladder  beneath 
the  bone ;  and  he  fell  to  his  knees  with  a  cry,  and  death  over- 
shadowed him. 

Then  Meges  slew  Pedaios  Antenor's  son,  that  was  a 
bastard;  yet  goodly  Theano  nurtured  him  carefully  Hke  to 
her  own  children,  to  do  her  husband  pleasure.  To  him  Phy- 
leus'  spear- famed  son  came  near,  and  with  keen  dart  smote 
him  upon  the  sinew  of  the  head ;  and  right  through  amid  the 
teeth  the  point  of  bronze  cleft  the  tongue's  root.  So  he  fell 
in  the  dust,  and  bit  the  cold  bronze  with  his  teeth. 

And  by  Eurypylos,  Euaimon's  son,  noble  Hypsenor  son 
of  high-hearted  Dolopion  that  was  appointed  Skamandros' 
priest  and  like  to  a  god  was  held  in  honour  of  the  folk — by 
Eurypylos  Euaimon's  glorious  son,  he  as  he  fled  before  him 
was  pursued  and  smitten  on  the  shoulder  with  a  sword-thrust, 
and  his  heavy  arm  was  shorn  away,  all  bleeding  the  arm 
fell  upon  the  earth ;  and  over  his  eyes  came  gloomy  death  and 
forceful  fate. 

So  laboured  these  in  the  violent  mellay;  but  of  Tydeides 
man  could  not  tell  with  whom  he  were  joined,  whether  he 
consorted  with  Trojans  or  with  Achaians.  For  he  stormed 
across  the  plain  like  a  winter  torrent  at  the  full,  that  in  swift 
course  scattereth  the  causeys;  neither  can  the  long  lines  of 
causeys  hold  it  in,  nor  the  fences  of  fruitful  orchards  stay 
its  sudden  coming  when  the  rain  of  heaven  driveth  it;  and 
so  before  it  perish  in  multitudes  the  fair  works  of  the  sons 
of  men.  Thus  before  Tydeides  the  serried  battalions  of  the 
Trojans  were  overthrown,  and  they  abode  him  not  for  all 
they  were  so  many. 

But  when  Lykaon's  glorious  son  marked  him  storming 
across  the  plain,  overthrowing  battalions  before  him,  anon 
he  bent  his  crooked  bow  against  Tydeides,  and  smote  him 
as  he  sped  onwards,  hitting  hard  by  his  right  shoulder  the 


98  HOMER 

plate  of  his  corslet;  the  bitter  arrow  flew  through  and  held 
straight  upon  its  way,  and  the  corslet  was  dabbled  with  blood. 
Over  him  then  loudly  shouted  Lykaon's  glorious  son:  "Bestir 
you,  great-hearted  Trojans,  urgers  of  horses;  the  best  man 
of  the  Achaians  is  wounded,  and  I  deem  that  he  shall  not  for 
long  endure  the  violent  dart,  if  verily  the  king,  the  son  of 
Zeus  [Apollo],  sped  me  on  my  way  from  Lykia." 

So  spake  he  boasting;  yet  was  the  other  not  vanquished 
of  the  swift  dart,  only  he  gave  place  and  stood  before  his 
horses  and  his  chariot  and  spake  to  Sthenelos  son  of 
Kapaneus:  "Haste  thee,  dear  son  of  Kapaneus;  descend  from 
thy  chariot,  to  draw  me  from  my  shoulder  the  bitter  arrow." 

So  said  he,  and  Sthenelos  leapt  from  his  chariot  to  earth 
and  stood  beside  him  and  drew  the  swift  shaft  right  through, 
out  of  his  shoulder;  and  the  blood  darted  up  through  the 
pliant  tunic.  Then  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  prayed 
thereat:  "Hear  me,  daughter  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  unwearied 
maiden!  H  ever  in  kindly  mood  thou  stoodest  by  my  father 
in  the  heat  of  battle,  even  so  now  be  thou  likewise  kind  to 
me,  Athene.  Grant  me  to  slay  this  man,  and  bring  within 
my  spear-cast  him  that  took  advantage  to  shoot  me,  and 
boasteth  over  me,  deeming  that  not  for  long  shall  I  see  the 
bright  light  of  the  sun." 

So  spake  he  in  prayer,  and  Pallas  Athene  heard  him, 
and  made  his  limbs  nimble,  his  feet  and  his  hands  withal,  and 
came  near  and  spake  winged  words:  "Be  of  good  courage 
now,  Diomedes,  to  fight  the  Trojans;  for  in  thy  breast  I 
have  set  thy  father's  courage  undaunted,  even  as  it  was  in 
knightly  Tydeus,  wielder  of  the  buckler.  Moreover  I  have 
taken  from  thine  eyes  the  mist  that  erst  was  on  them,  that 
thou  mayest  well  discern  both  god  and  man.  Therefore  if 
any  god  come  hither  to  make  trial  of  thee,  fight  not  thou  face 
to  face  with  any  of  the  immortal  gods;  save  only  if  Aphrodite 
daughter  of  Zeus  enter  into  the  battle,  her  smite  thou  with  the 
keen  bronze." 

So  saying  bright-eyed  Athene  went  her  way  and  Tydeides 
returned  and  entered  the  forefront  of  the  battle;  even  though 
erst  his  soul  was  eager  to  do  battle  with  the  Trojans,  yet 
now  did  threefold  courage  come  upon  him,  as  upon  a  lion 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  99 

whom  some  shepherd  in  the  field  guarding  his  fleecy  sheep 
hath  wounded,  being  sprung  into  the  fold,  yet  hath  not  van- 
quished him;  he  hath  roused  his  might,  and  then  cannot  beat 
him  back,  but  lurketh  amid  the  steading,  and  his  forsaken 
flock  is  affrighted ;  so  the  sheep  are  cast  in  heaps,  one  upon 
the  other,  and  the  lion  in  his  fury  leapeth  out  of  the  high 
fold;  even  so  in  fury  mingled  mighty  Diomedes  with  the 
Trojans. 

There  slew  he  Astynoos  and  Hypeiron  shepherd  of  the 
host;  the  one  he  pierced  above  the  nipple  with  his  bronze- 
shod  dart,  the  other  with  his  great  sword  upon  the  collar- 
bone beside  the  shoulder  he  smote,  and  severed  the  shoulder 
from  neck  and  back.  Them  left  he  there,  and  pursued  after 
Abas  and  Polyidos,  sons  of  old  Eurydamas  dreamer  of 
dreams ;  yet  discerned  he  no  dreams  for  them  when  they  went, 
but  stalwart  Diomedes  despoiled  them.  Then  went  he  after 
Xanthos  and  Thoon,  sons  of  Phainops,  striplings  both;  but 
their  father  was  outworn  of  grievous  age,  and  begat  no  other 
son  for  his  possessions  after  him.  Then  Diomedes  slew  them 
and  bereft  the  twain  of  their  dear  life,  and  for  their  father 
left  only  lamentation  and  sore  distress,  seeing  he  welcomed 
them  not  alive  returned  from  battle;  and  kinsmen  divided 
his  substance. 

Then  caught  he  two  sons  of  Priam  of  the  seed  of  Dar- 
danos,  riding  in  one  chariot,  Echemmon  and  Chromios.  As 
a  lion  leapeth  among  the  kine  and  breaketh  the  neck  of  cow 
or  heifer  grazing  in  a  woodland  pasture,  so  Tydeus'  son 
thrust  in  ill  wise  from  their  chariot  both  of  them  unwilling, 
and  thereafter  despoiled  them  of  their  arms;  and  the  horses 
gave  he  to  his  comrades  to  drive  them  to  the  ships. 

Him  Aineias  beheld  making  havoc  of  the  ranks  of  war- 
riors, and  went  his  way  along  the  battle  and  amid  the  hurtling 
of  spears,  seeking  godlike  Pandaros,  if  haply  he  might  find 
him.  Lykaon's  son  he  found,  the  noble  and  stalwart,  and  stood 
before  his  face,  and  spake  a  word  unto  him.  "Pandaros, 
where  now  are  thy  bow  and  thy  winged  arrows,'  and  the  fame 
wherein  no  man  of  this  land  rivalleth  thee,  nor  any  in  Lykia 
boasteth  to  be  thy  better?  Go  to  now,  lift  thy  hands  in  prayer 
to  Zeus  and  shoot  thy  dart  at  this  fellow,  whoe'er  he  be  that 


100  HOMER 

lordeth  it  here  and  hath  already  wrought  the  Trojans  much 
mischief,  seeing  he  hath  unstrung  the  knees  of  many  a  brave 
man;  if  indeed  it  be  not  some  god  wroth  with  the  Trojans, 
in  anger  by  reason  of  sacrifices;  the  wrath  of  god  is  a  sore 
thing  to  fall  on  men." 

And  Lykaon's  glorious  son  made  answer  to  him:  "Aineias, 
counsellor  of  the  mail-clad  Trojans,  in  everything  Hken  I 
him  to  the  wise  son  of  Tydeus;  I  discern  him  by  his  shield 
and  crested  helmet,  and  by  the  aspect  of  his  horses ;  yet  know 
I  not  surely  if  it  be  not  a  god.  But  if  it  be  the  man  I  deem, 
even  the  wise  son  of  Tydeus,  then  not  without  help  of  a  god 
is  he  thus  furious,  but  some  immortal  standeth  beside  him 
with  a  cloud  wrapped  about  his  shoulders  and  turned  aside 
from  him  my  swift  dart  even  as  it  lighted.  For  already  have 
I  shot  my  dart  at  him  and  smote  his  right  shoulder  right 
through  the  breastplate  of  his  corslet,  yea  and  I  thought  to 
hurl  him  headlong  to  Aidoneus,  yet  I  vanquished  him  not; 
surely  it  is  some  wrathful  god.  And  I  have  no  steeds  at 
hand  nor  any  chariot  whereon  to  mount — yet  in  Lykaon's 
halls  are  eleven  fair  chariots,  new  wrought,  with  gear  all  fresh, 
and  cloths  spread  over  them;  and  beside  each  standeth  a  yoke 
of  horses,  champing  white  barley  and  spelt.  Moreover  Lykaon 
the  aged  spearman  at  my  departing  laid  instant  charge  upon 
me  in  our  well-builded  house;  he  bade  me  mount  horse  and 
chariot  to  lead  the  Trojans  in  the  violent  mellay;  but  I  obeyed 
him  not — far  better  had  that  been! — but  spared  the  horses 
lest  in  the  great  crowd  of  men  they  should  lack  fodder  that 
had  been  wont  to  feed  their  fill.  Therefore  I  left  them  and 
am  come  on  foot  to  Ilios,  trusting  to  my  bow ;  and  now  must 
my  bow  not  help  me !  Already  have  I  aimed  at  two  princes, 
Tydeus'  and  Atreus'  sons,  and  both  I  smote  and  surely  drew 
forth  blood,  yet  only  roused  them  the  more.  Therefore  in  an 
evil  hour  I  took  from  the  peg  my  curved  bow  on  that  day 
when  I  led  my  Trojans  to  lovely  Ilios,  to  do  noble  Hector 
pleasure.  But  if  I  return  and  mine  eyes  behold  my  native 
land  and  wife  and  great  palace  lofty-roofed,  then  may  an 
alien  forthwith  cut  my  head  from  me  if  I  break  not  this  bow 
with  mine  hands  and  cast  it  upon  the  blazing  fire ;  worthless  is 
its  service  to  me  as  air." 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  101 

Then  Aineias  captain  of  the  Trojans  answered  him : 
"Nay,  talk  not  thus;  naught  shall  be  mended  before  that 
we  with  horses  and  chariot  have  gone  to  face  this  man,  and 
made  trial  of  him  in  arms.  Come  then,  mount  upon  my 
car  that  thou  mayest  see  of  what  sort  are  the  steeds  of  Tros, 
well  skilled  for  following  or  for  fleeing  hither  or  thither  very 
fleetly  across  the  plain;  they  will  e'en  bring  us  to  the  city 
safe  and  sound,  even  though  Zeus  hereafter  give  victory  to 
Diomedes  son  of  Tydeus.  Come  therefore,  take  thou  the  lash 
and  shining  reins,  and  I  will  stand  upon  the  car  to  fight;  or 
else  withstand  thou  him,  and  to  the  horses  will  I  look." 

To  him  made  answer  Lykaon's  glorious  son :  "Aineias, 
take  thou  thyself  the  reins  and  thine  own  horses ;  better  will 
they  draw  the  curved  car  for  their  wonted  charioteer,  if  per- 
chance it  hap  that  we  must  flee  from  Tydeus'  son;  lest  they 
go  wild  for  fear  and  will  not  take  us  from  the  fight,  for  lack 
of  thy  voice,  and  so  the  son  of  great-hearted  Tydeus  attack 
us  and  slay  us  both  and  drive  away  the  whole-hooved  horses. 
So  drive  thou  thyself  thy  chariot  and  thy  horses,  and  I  will 
await  his  onset  with  my  keen  spear."  So  saying  mounted 
they  upon  the  well-dight  chariot,  and  eagerly  drave  the  fleet 
horses  against  Tydeides.  And  Sthenelos,  the  glorious  son 
of  Kapaneus,  saw  them,  and  anon  spake  to  Tydeides  winged 
words:  "Diomedes  son  of  Tydeus,  dear  to  mine  heart,  I  be- 
hold two  stalwart  warriors  eager  to  fight  against  thee,  en- 
dued with  might  beyond  measure.  The  one  is  well  skilled  in 
the  bow,  even  Pandaros,  and  he  moreover  boasteth  him  to  be 
Lykaon's  son;  and  Aineias  boasteth  himself  to  be  born  son  of 
great-hearted  Anchises,  and  his  mother  is  Aphrodite.  Come 
now,  let  us  give  place  upon  the  chariot,  neither  rage  thou 
thus,  I  pray  thee,  in  the  forefront  of  battle,  lest  perchance 
thou  lose  thy  life." 

Then  stalwart  Diomedes  looked  sternly  at  him  and  said : 
"  Speak  to  me  no  word  of  flight,  for  I  ween  that  thou  shalt  not 
at  all  persuade  me;  not  in  my  blood  is  it  to  fight  a  skulk- 
ing fight  or  cower  down;  my  force  is  steadfast  still.  I  have 
no  mind  to  mount  the  chariot,  nay,  even  as  I  am  will  I  go  to 
face  them;  Pallas  Athene  biddeth  me  not  be  afraid.  And  as 
for  these,  their  fleet  horses  shall  not  take  both  back  from 


102  HOMER 

us  again,  even  if  one  or  other  escape.  And  this  moreover 
tell  I  thee,  and  lay  thou  it  to  heart :  if  Athene  rich  in  counsel 
grant  me  this  glory,  to  slay  them  both,  then  refrain  thou 
here  these  my  fleet  horses,  and  bind  the  reins  tight  to  the 
chariot  rim;  and  be  mindful  to  leap  upon  Aineias'  horses, 
and  drive  them  forth  from  the  Trojans  amid  the  well-greaved 
Achaians.  For  they  are  of  that  breed  whereof  farseeing  Zeus 
gave  to  Tros  recompense  for  Ganymede  his  child,  because 
they  were  the  best  of  all  horses  beneath  the  daylight  and  the 
sun.  That  blood  Anchises  king  of  men  stole  of  Laomedon, 
privily  putting  mares  to  them.  Thereof  a  stock  was  born  him 
in  his  palace,  even  six;  four  kept  he  himself  and  reared  them 
at  the  stall,  and  the  other  twain  gave  he  to  Aineias  deviser  of 
rout.    Them  could  we  seize,  we  should  win  us  great  renown." 

In  such  wise  talked  they  one  to  the  other,  and  anon  those 
other  twain  came  near,  driving  their  fleet  horses.  First  to 
him  spake  Lykaon's  glorious  son:  "O  thou  strong-souled  and 
cunning,  son  of  proud  Tydeus,  verily  my  swift  dart  van- 
quished thee  not,  the  bitter  arrow;  so  now  will  I  make  trial 
with  my  spear  if  I  can  hit  thee." 

He  spake  and  poised  and  hurled  his  far-shadowing  spear, 
and  smote  upon  Tydeides'  shield;  right  through  it  sped  the 
point  of  bronze  and  reached  the  breastplate.  So  over  him 
shouted  loudly  Lykaon's  glorious  son:  "Thou  art  smitten 
on  the  belly  right  through,  and  I  ween  thou  shalt  not  long  hold 
up  thine  head;  so  thou  givest  me  great  renown." 

But  mighty  Diomedes  unafifrighted  answered  him:  "Thou 
hast  missed,  and  not  hit;  but  ye  twain  I  deem  shall  not  cease 
till  one  or  other  shall  have  fallen  and  glutted  with  blood  Ares 
the  stubborn  god  of  war." 

So  spake  he  and  hurled;  and  Athene  guided  the  dart 
upon  his  nose  beside  the  eye,  and  it  pierced  through  his 
white  teeth.  So  the  hard  bronze  cut  through  his  tongue  at 
the  root  and  the  point  issued  forth  by  the  base  of  the  chin. 
He  fell  from  his  chariot,  and  his  splendid  armour  gleaming 
clanged  upon  him,  and  the  fleet-footed  horses  swerved  aside; 
so  there  his  soul  and  strength  were  unstrung. 

Then  Aineias  leapt  down  with  shield  and  long  spear, 
fearing  lest  perchance  the  Achaians  might  take   from  him 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  103 

the  corpse ;  and  strode  over  him  Hke  a  Hon  confident  in  his 
strength,  and  held  before  him  his  spear  and  the  circle  of  his 
shield,  eager  to  slay  whoe'er  should  come  to  face  him,  crying 
his  terrible  cry.  Then  Tydeides  grasped  in  his  hand  a  stone — 
a  mighty  deed — such  as  two  men,  as  men  now  are,  would 
not  avail  to  lift;  yet  he  with  ease  wielded  it  all  alone.  There- 
with he  smote  Aineias  on  the  hip  where  the  thigh  turneth  in 
the  hip-joint,  and  this  men  call  the  "cup-bone."  So  he  crushed 
his  cup-bone,  and  brake  both  sinews  withal,  and  the  jagged 
stone  tore  apart  the  skin.  Then  the  hero  stayed  fallen  upon 
his  knees  and  with  stout  hand  leant  upon  the  earth;  and  the 
darkness  of  night  veiled  his  eyes.  And  now  might  Aineias 
king  of  men  have  perished,  but  that  Aphrodite  daughter  of 
Zeus  was  swift  to  mark,  even  his  mother  that  conceived  him 
by  Anchises  as  he  tended  the  kine.  About  her  dear  son  wound 
she  her  white  arms,  and  spread  before  his  face  a  fold  of  her 
radiant  vesture,  to  be  a  covering  from  the  darts,  lest  any  of 
the  fleet-horsed  Danaans  might  hurl  the  spear  into  his  breast 
and  take  away  his  life. 

So  was  she  bearing  her  dear  son  away  from  battle ;  but 
the  son  of  Kapaneus  forgat  not  the  behest  that  Diomedes 
of  the  loud  war-cry  had  laid  upon  him;  he  refrained  his 
own  whole-hooved  horses  away  from  the  tumult,  binding  the 
reins  tight  to  the  chariot-rim,  and  leapt  on  the  sleek-coated 
horses  of  Aineias,  and  drave  them  from  the  Trojans  to  the 
well-greaved  Achaians,  and  gave  them  to  Deipylos  his  dear 
comrade  whom  he  esteemed  above  all  that  were  his  age- 
fellows,  because  he  was  like-minded  with  himself;  and  bade 
him  drive  them  to  the  hollow  ships.  Then  did  the  hero  mount 
his  own  chariot  and  take  the  shining  reins  and  forthwith  drive 
his  strong-hooved  horses  in  quest  of  Tydeides,  eagerly.  Now 
Tydeides  had  made  onslaught  with  pitiless  weapon  on  Kypris 
[Aphrodite],  knowing  how  she  was  a  coward  goddess  and 
none  of  those  that  have  mastery  in  battle  of  the  warriors — 
no  Athene  she  nor  Enyo  waster  of  cities.  Now  when  he 
had  pursued  her  through  the  dense  throng  and  come  on  her, 
then  great-hearted  Tydeus'  son  thrust  with  his  keen  spear, 
and  leapt  on  her  and  wounded  the  skin  of  her  weak  hand ; 
straight  through  the  ambrosial  raiment  that  the  Graces  them- 


104  HOMER 

selves  had  woven  her  pierced  the  dart  into  the  flesh,  above 
the  springing  of  the  palm.  Then  flowed  the  goddess's  im- 
mortal blood,  such  ichor  as  floweth  in  the  blessed  gods;  for 
they  eat  no  bread  neither  drink  they  gleaming  wine,  where- 
fore they  are  bloodless  and  are  named  immortals.  And  she 
with  a  great  cry  let  fall  her  son :  him  Phoebus  Apollo  took 
into  his  arms  and  saved  him  in  a  dusky  cloud,  lest  any  of  the 
fleet-horsed  Danaans  might  hurl  the  spear  into  his  breast 
and  take  away  his  life.  But  over  her  Diomedes  of  the  loud 
war-cry  shouted  afar:  "Refrain  thee,  thou  daughter  of  Zeus, 
from  war  and  fighting.  Is  it  not  enough  that  thou  beguilest 
feeble  women?  But  if  in  battle  thou  wilt  mingle,  verily  I 
deem  that  thou  shalt  shudder  at  the  name  of  battle,  if  thou 
hear  it  even  afar  off." 

So  spake  he,  and  she  departed  in  amaze  and  was  sore 
troubled ;  and  wind-footed  Iris  took  her  and  led  her  from  the 
throng  tormented  with  her  pain,  and  her  fair  skin  was  stained. 
There  found  she  impetuous  Ares  sitting,  on  the  battle's  left; 
and  his  spear  rested  upon  a  cloud,  and  his  fleet  steeds.  Then 
she  fell  on  her  knees  and  with  instant  prayer  besought  of 
her  dear  brother  his  golden- frontleted  steeds:  "Dear  brother, 
save  me  and  give  me  thy  steeds,  that  I  may  win  to  Olympus, 
where  is  the  habitation  of  the  immortals.  Sorely  am  I  afflicted 
with  a  wound  wherewith  a  mortal  smote  me,  even  Tydeides, 
who  now  would  fight  even  with  father  Zeus." 

So  spake  she,  and  Ares  gave  her  his  golden-frontleted 
steeds:  and  she  mounted  on  the  chariot  sore  at  heart.  By 
her  side  mounted  Iris,  and  in  her  hands  grasped  the  reins 
and  lashed  the  horses  to  start  them;  and  they  flew  onward 
nothing  loth.  Thus  soon  they  came  to  the  habitation  of  the 
gods,  even  steep  Olympus.  There  wind- footed  fleet  Iris  loosed 
the  horses  from  the  chariot  and  stabled  them,  and  set  am- 
brosial forage  before  them;  but  fair  Aphrodite  fell  upon 
Dione's  knees  that  was  her  mother.  She  took  her  daughter 
in  her  arms  and  stroked  her  with  her  hand,  and  spake  and 
called  upon  her  name:  "Who  now  of  the  sons  of  heaven,  dear 
child,  hath  entreated  thee  thus  wantonly,  as  though  thou  wert 
a  wrong-doer  in  the  face  of  all  ?" 

Then   laughter-loving   Aphrodite   made   answer   to   her: 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  105 

"Tydeus'  son  wounded  me,  high-hearted  Diomedes,  because 
I  was  saving  from  the  battle  my  dear  son  Aineias,  who  to 
me  is  dearest  far  of  all  men.  For  no  more  is  the  fierce 
battle-cry  for  Trojans  and  Achaians,  but  the  Danaans  now 
are  fighting  even  the  immortals." 

Then  the  fair  goddess  Dione  answered  her:  "Be  of  good 
heart,  my  child,  and  endure  for  all  thy  pain ;  for  many  of  us 
that  inhabit  the  mansions  of  Olympus  have  suffered  through 
men,  in  bringing  grievous  woes  one  upon  another.  So  suf- 
fered Ares,  when  Otos  and  stalwart  Ephialtes,  sons  of  Aloeus, 
bound  him  in  a  strong  prison-house ;  yea  in  a  vessel  of  bronze 
lay  he  bound  thirteen  months.  Then  might  Ares  insatiate  of 
battle  have  perished,  but  that  the  step-mother  of  Aloeus'  sons, 
fair  Eeriboia,  gave  tidings  to  Hermes,  and  he  stole  away  Ares, 
already  pining;  for  the  grievous  prison-house  was  wearing 
him  out.  So  suffered  Hera  when  Amphitryon's  stalwart  son 
smote  her  on  the  right  breast  with  a  three-barbed  arrow,  so 
that  pain  unassuageable  gat  hold  of  her  likewise.  So  suffered 
awful  Hades  a  swift  arrow  like  the  rest,  when  this  same  man, 
the  son  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  smote  him  in  Pylos  amid  the 
dead  and  gave  him  over  to  anguish.  And  he  went  to  the 
mansion  of  Zeus  and  to  high  Olympus,  grieved  at  heart, 
pierced  through  with  anguish;  for  the  arrow  was  driven  into 
his  stout  shoulder,  and  vexed  his  soul.  But  Paieon  spread 
soothing  drugs  upon  the  wound  and  healed  him;  seeing  that 
verily  he  was  of  no  mortal  substance.  Headstrong  man  and 
violent  of  deed,  that  recked  not  of  his  evil  doings,  and  with 
his  archery  vexed  the  gods  that  dwell  in  Olympus!  So  upon 
thee  was  this  man  sent  by  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene; 
fond  man — for  the  heart  of  Tydeus'  son  knoweth  not  this,  that 
he  of  a  surety  is  not  long-lived  that  fighteth  with  immortals, 
nor  ever  do  his  children  prattle  upon  his  knees  at  his  return- 
ing from  war  and  terrible  fray.  Therefore  now  let  Tydeides, 
though  he  be  very  mighty,  beware  lest  one  better  than  thou 
encounter  him;  and  so  Aigialeia,  wise  daughter  of  Adrestos, 
wake  from  sleep  with  lamentations  all  her  household,  bewail- 
ing her  wedded  lord,  the  best  man  of  the  Achaians,  even  she 
that  is  the  brave  wife  of  horse-taming  Diomedes." 

So  saying  with  both  hands  she  wiped  the  ichor  from  the 


106  HOMER 

arm ;  her  arm  was  comforted,  and  the  grievous  pangs  assuaged. 
But  Athene  and  Hera  beheld,  and  with  bitter  words  provoked 
Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos.  Of  them  was  the  bright-eyed  goddess 
Athene  first  to  speak:  "Father  Zeus,  wilt  thou  indeed  be  wroth 
with  me  whate'er  I  say?  Verily  I  ween  that  Kypris  was  urg- 
ing some  woman  of  Achaia  to  join  her  unto  the  Trojans  whom 
she  so  marvellously  loveth;  and  stroking  such  an  one  of  the 
fair-robed  women  of  Achaia,  she  tore  upon  the  golden  brooch 
her  delicate  hand." 

So  spake  she,  and  the  father  of  gods  and  men  smiled,  and 
called  upon  him  golden  Aphrodite  and  said:  "Not  unto  thee, 
my  child,  are  given  the  works  of  war;  but  follow  thou  after 
the  loving  tasks  of  wedlock,  and  to  all  these  things  shall  fleet 
Ares  and  Athene  look." 

Now  while  they  thus  spake  in  converse  one  with  the  other, 
Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  leapt  upon  Aineias,  knowing 
full  well  that  Apollo  himself  had  spread  his  arms  over  him ; 
yet  reverenced  he  not  even  the  great  god,  but  still  was  eager 
to  slay  Aineias  and  strip  from  him  his  glorious  armour.  So 
thrice  he  leapt  on  him,  fain  to  slay  him,  and  thrice  Apollo 
beat  back  his  glittering  shield.  And  when  the  fourth  time  he 
sprang  at  him  like  a  god,  then  Apollo  the  Far-darter  spake  to 
him  with  terrible  shout:  "Think,  Tydeides,  and  shrink,  nor 
desire  to  match  thy  spirit  with  gods ;  seeing  there  is  no  com- 
parison of  the  race  of  immortal  gods  and  of  men  that  walk 
upon  the  earth." 

So  said  he,  and  Tydeides  shrank  a  short  space  backwards, 
to  avoid  the  wrath  of  Apollo  the  Far-darter.  Then  Apollo 
set  Aineias  away  from  the  throng  in  holy  Pergamos  where 
his  temple  stood.  There  Leto  and  Archer  Artemis  healed  him 
in  the  mighty  sanctuary,  and  gave  him  glory;  but  Apollo  of 
the  silver  bow  made  a  wraith  like  unto  Aineias'  self,  and  in 
such  armour  as  his ;  and  over  the  wraith  Trojans  and  goodly 
Achaians  each  hewed  the  others'  bucklers  on  their  breasts,  their 
round  shields  and  fluttering  targes. 

Then  to  impetuous  Ares  said  Phoebus  Apollo :  "Ares,  Ares, 
blood-stained  bane  of  mortals,  thou  stormer  of  walls,  wilt  thou 
not  follow  after  this  man  and  withdraw  him  from  the  battle, 
this  Tydeides,  who  now  would  fight  even  with  father  Zeus? 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK  V  107 

First  in  close  fight  he  wounded  Kypris  in  her  hand  hard  by 
the  wrist,  and  then  sprang  he  upon  myself  like  unto  a  god." 

So  saying  he  sate  himself  upon  the  height  of  Pergamos, 
and  baleful  Ares  entered  among  the  Trojan  ranks  and  aroused 
them  in  the  likeness  of  fleet  Akamas,  captain  of  the  Thracians. 
On  the  heaven-nurtured  sons  of  Priam  he  called  saying:  "O 
ye  sons  of  Priam,  the  heaven-nurtured  king,  how  long  will  ye 
yet  suffer  your  host  to  be  slain  of  the  Achaians?  Shall  it  be 
even  until  they  fight  about  our  well-builded  gates  ?  Low  lieth 
the  warrior  whom  we  esteemed  like  unto  goodly  Hector,  even 
Aineias  son  of  Anchises  great  of  heart.  Go  to  now,  let  us 
save  from  the  tumult  our' valiant  comrade." 

So  saying  he  aroused  the  spirit  and  soul  of  every  man. 
Thereat  Sarpedon  sorely  cliode  noble  Hector:  "Hector,  where 
now  is  the  spirit  gone  that  erst  thou  hadst  ?  Thou  saidst  for- 
sooth that  without  armies  or  allies  thou  wouldest  hold  the  city, 
alone  with  thy  sisters'  husbands  and  thy  brothers;  but  now 
can  I  not  see  any  of  these  neither  perceive  them,  but  they  are 
cowering  like  hounds  about  a  lion;  and  we  are  fighting  that 
are  but  allies  among  you.  Yea  I  being  an  ally  am  come  from 
very  far;  far  off  is  Lykia  upon  eddying  Xanthos,  where  I 
left  my  dear  wife  and  infant  son,  and  left  my  great  wealth  that 
each  one  coveteth  that  is  in  need.  Yet  for  all  that  I  urge  on 
my  Lykians,  and  myself  am  eager  to  fight  my  man,  though 
here  is  naught  of  mine  such  as  the  Achaians  might  plunder  or 
harry.  But  thou  standest,  nay  thou  dost  not  even  urge  all  thine 
hosts  to  abide  and  guard  their  wives.  Only  beware  lest,  as 
though  tangled  in  meshes  of  all-ensnaring  flax,  ye  be  made 
unto  your  foemen  a  prey  and  a  spoil ;  and  they  will  soon  lay 
waste  your  well-peopled  city.  Thee  it  behoveth  to  give  thought 
to  all  these  things  both  by  night  and  day,  and  to  beseech  the 
captains  of  thy  far-famed  allies  to  hold  on  unflinchingly ;  and 
so  shalt  thou  put  away  tlieir  sore  rebuking  from  thee." 

So  spake"  Sarpedon,  and  his  word  stung  Hector  to  the 
heart.  Forthwith  he  leapt  from  his  chariot  in  his  armour  to 
the  earth,  and  brandishing  two  keen  spears  went  everywhere 
through  the  host,  urging  them  to  fight,  and  roused  the  dread 
battle-cry.  So  they  were  rallied  and  stood  to  face  the 
Achaians :  and  the  Argives  withstood  them  in  close  array  and 


108  HOMER 

fled  not.  Even  as  a  wind  carrieth  the  chaff  about  the  sacred 
threshing-floors  when  men  are  winnowing,  what  time  golden- 
haired  Demeter  in  rush  of  wind  maketh  division  of  grain  and 
chaff,  and  so  the  chaff-heaps  grow  white — so  now  grew  the 
Achaians  white  with  falhng  dust  which  in  their  midst  the 
horses'  hooves  beat  up  into  the  brazen  heaven,  as  fight  was 
joined  again,  and  the  charioteers  wheeled  round.  Thus  bare 
they  forward  the  fury  of  their  hands;  and  impetuous  Ares 
drew  round  them  a  veil  of  night  to  aid  the  Trojans  in  the 
battle,  ranging  everywhere ;  so  fulfilled  he  the  behest  of  Phoe- 
bus Apollo  of  the  golden  sword,  who  bade  him  rouse  the 
Trojans'  spirit  when  he  beheld  Pallas  Athene  departed ;  for  she 
was  helper  to  the  Danaans.  And  Apollo  himself  sent  forth 
Aineias  from  his  rich  sanctuary  and  put  courage  in  the  heart 
of  him,  shepherd  of  the  hosts.  So  Aineias  took  his  place  amid 
his  comrades,  and  they  were  glad  to  see  hirn  come  among  them 
alive  and  sound  and  full  of  valiant  spirit.  Yet  they  questioned 
him  not  at  all,  for  all  the  toil  forbade  them  that  the  god  of  the 
silver  bow  was  stirring  and  Ares  bane  of  men  and  Strife  raging 
insatiably. 

And  on  the  other  side  the  two  Aiantes  and  Odysseus  and 
Diomedes  stirred  the  Danaans  to  fight;  yet  these  of  them- 
selves feared  neither  the  Trojans'  violence  nor  assaults,  but 
stood  like  mists  that  Kronos'  son  setteth  in  windless  air  on 
the  mountain  tops,  at  peace,  while  the  might  of  the  north  wind 
sleepeth  and  of  all  the  violent  winds  that  blow  with  keen  breath 
and  scatter  apart  the  shadowing  clouds.  Even  so  the  Danaans 
withstood  the  Trojans  steadfastly  and  fled  not.  And  Atreides 
ranged  through  the  throng  exhorting  instantly:  "My  friends, 
quit  you  like  men  and  take  heart  of  courage,  and  shun  dis- 
honour in  one  another's  eyes  amid  the  stress  of  battle.  Of 
men  that  shun  dishonour  more  are  saved  than  slain,  but  for 
them  that  flee  is  neither  glory  found  nor  any  safety." 

So  saying  he  darted  swiftly  with  his  javelin  and  smote  a 
foremost  warrior,  even  great-hearted  Aineias'  comrade  Dei- 
koon  son  of  Pergasos,  whom  the  Trojans  held  in  like  honour 
with  Priam's  sons,  because  he  was  swift  to  do  battle  amid  the 
foremost.  Him  lord  Agamemnon  smote  with  his  dart  upon 
the  shield,  and  it  stayed  not  the  spear,  but  the  point  passed 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  109 

through,  so  that  he  drave  it  through  the  belt  into  his  nethermost 
belly:  and  he  fell  with  a  crash  and  his  armour  clanged  upon 
him. 

Then  did  Aineias  slay  two  champions  of  the  Danaans,  even 
the  sons  of  Diokles,  Krethon  and  Orsilochos,  whose  father 
dwelt  in  stablished  Phere,  a  man  full  of  substance,  whose 
lineage  was  of  the  river  Alpheios,  that  floweth  in  broad  stream 
through  the  land  of  the  Pylians ;  Alpheios  begat  Orsilochos  to 
be  king  of  many  men,  and  Orsilochos  begat  great-hearted 
Diokles,  and  of  Diokles  were  born  twin  sons,  even  Krethon 
and  Orsilochos,  well  skilled  in  all  the  ways  of  war.  Now  when 
these  were  of  full  age,  they  bare  the  Argives  company  on  their 
black  ships  to  Ilios  home  of  horses,  to  win  recompense  for 
Atreus'  sons,  Agamemnon  and  Menelaos ;  but  now  the  issue  of 
death  shrouded  them  about.  Like  them,  two  lions  on  the 
mountain  tops  are  nurtured  by  their  dam  in  the  deep  forest 
thickets ;  and  these  harry  the  kine  and  goodly  sheep  and  make 
havoc  of  the  farmsteads  of  men,  till  in  their  turn  they  too  are 
slain  at  men's  hands  with  the  keen  bronze ;  in  such  wise  were 
these  twain  vanquished  at  Aineias'  hands  and  fell  like  tall 
pine-trees. 

But  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares  had  pity  of  them  in  their  fall, 
and  strode  through  the  forefront,  harnessed  in  flashing  bronze, 
brandishing  his  spear;  and  Ares  stirred  his  courage,  with  in- 
tent that  he  might  fall  beneath  Aineias'  hand.  But  Antilochos, 
great-hearted  Nestor's  son,  beheld  him,  and  strode  through  the 
forefront;  because  he  feared  exceedingly  for  the  shepherd  of 
the  host,  lest  aught  befall  him  and  disappoint  them  utterly  of 
their  labour.  So  those  two  were  now  holding  forth  their  hands 
and  sharp  spears  each  against  the  other,  eager  to  do  battle; 
when  Antilochos  came  and  stood  hard  by  the  shepherd  of  the 
host.  But  Aineias  faced  them  not,  keen  warrior  though  he 
was,  when  he  beheld  two  men  abiding  side  by  side;  so  these 
haled  away  the  corpses  to  the  Achaians'  host,  and  laid  the 
hapless  twain  in  their  comrades'  arms,  and  themselves  turned 
back  and  fought  on  amid  the  foremost. 

Then  slew  they  Pylaimenes,  peer  of  Ares,  captain  of  the 
great-hearted  Paphlagonians  bearers  of  the  shield.  Him  as 
he  stood  still  Atreus'  son,  spear-famed  Menelaos,  pierced  with 


no  HOMER 

his  javelin,  smiting  upon  the  collar-bone;  and  Antilochos 
hurled  at  IMydon,  his  squire  and  charioteer,  Atymnios'  brave 
son,  even  as  he  was  wheeling  the  whole-hooved  horses,  and 
with  a  stone  smote  his  elbow  in  the  midst ;  so  the  reins  white 
with  ivory  fell  from  his  hands  to  earth,  even  into  the  dust. 
Then  Antilochos  sprang  on  him  and  drave  the  sword  into  his 
temple,  and  he  fell  gasping  from  the  well-wrought  chariot 
headlong  in  the  dust  on  crown  and  shoulders.  A  while  he 
stood  there,  being  lighted  on  deep  sand,  until  liis  horses  spurned 
him  and  cast  him  to  earth,  even  in  the  dust ;  and  them  Antilo- 
chos lashed,  and  drave  them  to  the  Achaians'  host. 

But  Hector  marked  them  across  the  ranks,  and  sprang  on 
them  with  a  shout,  and  the  battalions  of  the  Trojans  followed 
him  in  their  might :  and  Ares  led  them  on  and  dread  Enyo, 
she  bringing  ruthless  turmoil  of  war,  the  while  Ares  wielded 
in  his  hands  his  monstrous  spear,  and  ranged  now  before 
Hector's  face,  and  now  behind. 

Then  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war  cry  shuddered  to  behold 
him;  and  even  as  a  shiftless  man  crossing  a  great  plain  cometh 
on  a  swift-streaming  river  flowing  on  to  the  sea,  and  seeing 
it  boil  with  foam  springeth  backwards,  even  so  now  Tydeides 
shrank  back  and  spake  to  the  host:  "Friends,  how  marvel  we 
that  noble  Hector  is  a  spearman  and  bold  man  of  war!  Yet 
ever  is  there  beside  him  some  god  that  wardeth  off  destruction ; 
even  as  now  Ares  is  there  by  him  in  likeness  of  a  mortal  man. 
But  with  faces  towards  the  Trojans  still  give  ground  back- 
wards, neither  be  desirous  to  fight  amain  with  gods." 

So  said  he,  and  the  Trojans  came  very  close  upon  them. 
Then  Hector  slew  two  that  knew  well  the  battle  joy,  riding 
in  one  chariot,  even  Menesthea  and  Anchialos.  And  the  great 
Telamonian  Aias  had  pity  of  them  in  their  fall,  and  came 
hard  by  and  darted  with  his  bright  javelin,  and  smote  Amphios 
son  of  Selagos,  that  dwelt  in  Paisos,  a  man  rich  in  substance, 
rich  in  meadow  land;  but  fate  led  him  to  bring  succour  to 
Priam  and  his  sons.  Him  Telamonian  Aias  smote  upon  the 
belt,  and  in  his  nether  belly  the  far-shadowing  spear  stuck  and 
he  fell  with  a  crash.  Then  glorious  Aias  ran  at  him  to  strip 
him  of  his  armour,  and  the  Trojans  rained  on  him  keen  jave- 
lins glittering,  and  his  shield  caught  many  thereof.     But  he 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  111 

set  his  heel  upon  the  corpse  and  plucked  forth  the  spear  of 
bronze ;  only  he  could  not  strip  from  his  shoulders  all  the  fair 
armour  therewith,  being  overwhelmed  of  spears.  Moreover 
he  feared  the  haughty  Trojans'  stout  defence,  they  being  many 
and  brave  that  with  their  spears  pressed  on  him,  so  that  for 
all  he  was  so  great  and  valiant  and  proud  they  thrust  him 
from  them ;  and  he  was  shaken  and  shrank  back. 

Thus  toiled  these  in  violent  battle;  and  Tlepolemos  son  of 
Herakles,  valiant  and  tall,  was  driven  of  forceful  fate  against 
godlike  Sarpedon.  Then  when  the  twain  were  come  nigh  in 
onset  on  each  other,  even  the  son  and  grandson  of  Zeus  the 
cloud-gatherer,  then  first  to  the  other  spake  Tlepolemos : 
"Sarpedon,  counsellor  of  the  Lykians,  why  must  thou  be  skulk- 
ing here,  being  a  man  unskilled  in  battle.  Falsely  do  men  say 
that  thou  are  offspring  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  seeing  thou  art 
found  lacking  greatly  beside  those  men  that  in  days  of  old  were 
born  of  Zeus.  Ah,  what  an  one  do  men  say  was  mighty 
Herakles,  even  my  father  the  steadfast  lion-heart,  who  erst 
came  hither  for  Laomedon's  mares  with  but  six  ships  and  a 
scantier  host,  yet  sacked  the  city  of  Ilios  and  made  her  high- 
ways desolate.  But  thine  is  a  base  spirit,  and  thy  folk  are 
minishing.  I  ween  that  thou  art  in  no  wise  come  from  Lykia 
to  be  a  bulwark  unto  the  Trojans,  for  all  thy  great  strength, 
but  that  thou  shalt  be  vanquished  at  my  hand  and  pass  the 
gates  of  Hades." 

Then  Sarpedon  captain  of  the  Lykians  answered  hnn: 
"Tlepolemos,  he  verily  overthrew  holy  Ilios  by  the  folly  of 
the  proud  man  Laomedon,  that  rewarded  his  good  deed  with 
harsh  upbraiding,  and  paid  him  not  the  steeds  wherefor  he 
came  from  afar.  And  for  thee  I  say  that  slaughter  and  black 
death  shall  come  about  here  at  my  hands ;  vanquished  by  my 
spear  thou  shalt  yield  to  me  my  glory,  and  thy  life  to  Hades 
of  the  goodly  steeds." 

So  spake  Sarpedon,  and  Tlepolemos  lifted  his  ashen  spear, 
and  both  their  long  javelins  sped  from  their  hands  together. 
Sarpedon  smote  the  midst  of  his  neck,  and  the  grievous  point 
past  right  through,  and  the  darkness  of  night  fell  on  his  eyes 
and  shrouded  him :  and  Tlepolemos  with  long  spear  smote  the 


112  HOMER 

other's  left  thigh,  and  the  point  sped  through  furiously,  grazing 
the  bone ;  but  his  father  yet  warded  off  destruction. 

So  his  goodly  comrades  bare  away  godlike  Sarpedon  from 
the  battle,  but  the  long  spear  dragging  was  heavy  upon  him, 
and  no  man  marked  it  or  took  thought  in  their  haste  to  draw 
the  ashen  spear  out  from  his  thigh  that  he  might  stand  up- 
right; such  labour  had  they  in  tending  him.  And  over  against 
them  the  well-greaved  Achaians  bare  Tlepolemos  from  the 
battle.  And  noble  Odysseus  of  the  patient  soul  marked  it, 
and  his  heart  was  stirred  within  him.  Then  doubted  he  in 
mind  and  soul  whether  first  to  pursue  the  son  of  Zeus  the  loud 
thunderer,  or  take  the  lives  of  the  common  sort  of  the  Lykians. 
But  it  was  not  destined  to  great-hearted  Odysseus  to  slay  with 
his  keen  blade  the  mighty  son  of  Zeus ;  so  Athene  turned  his 
fury  upon  the  multitude  of  the  Lykians.  Then  slew  he 
Koiranos  and  Alastor  and  Chromios  and  Alkandros  and  Halios 
and  Noemon  and  Prytanis;  and  yet  more  Lykians  had  noble 
Odysseus  slain  but  that  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  was 
swift  to  mark  him,  and  strode  through  the  forefront  of  battle, 
harnessed  in  flashing  bronze,  and  brought  terror  to  the 
Danaans ;  but  Sarpedon  the  son  of  Zeus  was  glad  at  his  com- 
ing, and  spake  to  him  a  word  of  pain :  "O  son  of  Priam,  let 
me  not  now  be  left  a  prey  unto  the  Danaans,  but  bring  me  suc- 
cour; howbeit  thereafter  let  my  life  depart  from  me  in  your 
city,  seeing  it  might  not  be  that  I  should  return  home  to  my 
dear  native  land,  to  make  glad  my  dear  wife  and  infant  son." 

So  said  he,  but  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  spake  no  word 
to  him,  but  hastened  on,  desirous  with  all  speed  to  thrust 
back  the  Argives  and  take  the  lives  of  many.  So  his  goodly 
comrades  made  godlike  Sarpedon  to  sit  beneath  a  fair  oak- 
tree  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  and  valiant  Pelagon  that  was  his 
dear  comrade  thrust  forth  from  his  thigh  the  ashen  spear; 
and  his  spirit  failed  him  and  mist  overspread  his  eyes.  Then 
breathed  he  again^  and  the  breath  of  the  north  wind  blew 
round  about  him  and  brought  him  to  life  from  the  grievous 
swoon  of  his  soul. 

Now  the  Argives  before  the  face  of  Ares  and  mail-clad 
Hector  neither  turned  them  round  about  toward  their  black 
ships  nor  charged  forward  in  battle,  but  still  fell  backward. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  113 

when  they  heard  of  Ares  amid  the  Trojans.  And  now  who 
first  was  slaughtered,  and  who  last,  by  Hector  son  of  Priam 
and  brazen  Ares?  Even  godhke  Teuthras,  and  thereafter 
Orestes  the  charioteer,  and  Trechos  spearman  of  Aitolia,  and 
Oinomaos  and  Helenos  son  of  Oinops  and  Oresbios  with 
gleaming  taslets,  who  dwelt  in  Hyle  and  had  great  care  of  his 
substance,  lying  beside  the  Kephisian  mere;  and  near  him 
dwelt  all  the  Boiotians,  inhabiters  of  a  full  rich  domain. 

Now  when  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  marked  them 
making  havoc  of  the  Argives  in  the  press  of  battle,  anon  she 
spake  winged  words  to  Athene:  "Out  on  it,  thou  daughter 
of  segis-bearing  Zeus,  unwearied  maiden!  Was  it  for  naught 
we  pledged  our  word  to  Menelaos,  that  he  should  not  depart 
till  he  had  laid  waste  well-walled  Ilios, — if  thus  we  let  bale- 
ful Ares  rage?  Go  to  now,  let  us  twain  also  take  thought 
of  impetuous  valour." 

So  said  she,  and  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  disre- 
garded not.  So  Hera  the  goddess  queen,  daughter  of  great 
Kronos,  went  her  way  to  harness  the  gold-frontled  steeds ;  and 
Hebe  quickly  put  to  the  car  the  curved  wheels  of  bronze, 
eight-spoked,  upon  their  axel-tree  of  iron.  Golden  is  their 
felloe,  imperishable,  and  tires  of  bronze  are  fitted  thereover, 
a  marvel  to  look  upon;  and  the  naves  are  of  silver,  to  turn 
about  on  either  side.  And  the  car  is  plaited  tight  with  gold 
and  silver  thongs,  and  two  rails  run  around  about  it.  And 
the  silver  pole  stood  out  therefrom;  upon  the  end  bound  she 
the  fair  golden  yoke,  and  set  thereon  the  fair  breaststraps 
of  gold,  and  Hera  led  beneath  the  ypke  the  horses  fleet  of 
foot,  and  hungered  for  strife  and  the  battle-cry.  And  Athene, 
daughter  of  segis-bearing  Zeus,  cast  down  at  her  father's 
threshold  her  woven  vesture  many-coloured,  that  herself  had 
wrought  and  her  hands  had  fashioned,  and  put  on  her  the  tunic 
of  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer,  and  arrayed  her  in  her  armour  for 
dolorous  battle.  About  her  shoulders  cast  she  the  tasselled 
segis  terrible,  whereon  is  Panic  as  a  crown  all  round  about, 
and  Strife  is  therein  and  Valour  and  horrible  Onslaught 
withal,  and  therein  is  the  dreadful  monster's  Gorgon  head, 
dreadful  and  grim,  portent  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus.  Upon  her 
head  set  she  the  two-crested  golden  helm  with  fourfold  plate. 


114  HOMER 

bedecked  with  men-at-arms  of  a  hundred  cities.  Upon  the 
flaming  chariot  set  she  her  foot,  and  grasped  her  heavy  spear, 
great  and  stout,  wherewith  she  vanquisheth  the  ranks  of  men, 
even  of  heroes  with  whom  she  of  the  awful  sire  is  wroth. 
Then  Hera  swiftly  smote  the  horses  with  the  lash;  self-mov- 
ing groaned  upon  their  hinges  the  gates  of  heaven  wliereof 
the  Hours  are  warders,  to  whom  is  committed  great  heaven 
and  Olympus,  whether  to  throw  open  the  thick  cloud  or  set 
it  to.  There  through  the  gates  guided  they  their  horses 
patient  of  the  lash.  And  they  found  the  son  of  Kronos  sit- 
ting apart  from  all  the  gods  on  the  top-most  peak  of  many- 
ridged  Olympus.  Then  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  stayed 
her  horses  and  questioned  the  most  high  Zeus,  the  son  of  Kro- 
nos, and  said:  "Father  Zeus,  hast  thou  no  indignation  with 
Ares  for  these  violent  deeds?  How  great  and  goodly  a  com- 
pany of  Achaians  hath  he  destroyed  recklessly  and  in  unruly 
wise,  unto  my  sorrow.  But  here  in  peace  Kypris  and  Apollo 
of  the  silver  bow  take  their  pleasure,  having  set  on  this  mad 
one  that  knoweth  not  any  law.  Father  Zeus,  wilt  thou  at  all 
be  wroth  with  me  if  I  smite  Ares  and  chase  him  from  the 
battle  in  sorry  plight  ?" 

And  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  answered  and  said  to  her: 
"Go  to  now,  set  upon  him  Athene  driver  of  the  spoil,  who 
most  is  wont  to  bring  sore  pain  upon  him." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  disre- 
garded not,  and  lashed  her  horses;  they  nothing  loth  flew  on 
between  earth  and  starry  heaven.  As  far  as  a  man  seeth  with 
his  eyes  into  the  haze  of  distance  as  he  sitteth  on  a  place  of 
outlook  and  gazeth  over  the  wine-dark  sea,  so  far  leap  the 
loudly  neighing  horses  of  the  gods.  Now  when  they  came  to 
Troy  and  the  two  flowing  rivers,  even  to  where  Simoeis  and 
Skamandros  join  their  streams,  there  the  white-armed  god- 
dess Hera  stayed  her  horses  and  loosed  them  from  the  car 
and  poured  thick  mist  round  about  them,  and  Simoeis  made 
ambrosia  spring  up  for  them  to  graze.  So  the  goddesses  went 
their  way  with  step  like  unto  turtledoves,  being  fain  to  bring 
succour  to  the  men  of  Argos.  And  when  they  were  now  come 
where  the  most  and  most  valiant  stood,  thronging  about 
mighty  Diomedes  tamer  of  horses,  in  the  semblance  of  raven- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  115 

ing  lions  or  wild  boars  whose  strength  is  nowise  feeble,  then 
stood  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  and  shouted  in  the  like- 
ness of  great-hearted  Stentor  with  voice  of  bronze,  whose  cry 
was  loud  as  the  cry  of  fifty  other  men:  "Fie  upon  you,  Ar- 
gives,  base  things  of  shame,  so  brave  in  semblance!  While 
yet  noble  Achilles  entered  continually  into  battle,  then  issued 
not  the  Trojans  even  from  the  Dardanian  gate ;  for  they  had 
dread  of  his  terrible  spear.  But  now  fight  they  far  from 
the  city  at  the  hollow  ships." 

So  saying  she  aroused  the  spirit  and  soul  of  every  man. 
And  to  Tydeides'  side  sprang  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene. 
That  lord  she  found  beside  his  horses  and  chariot,  cooling 
the  wound  that  Pandaros  with  his  dart  had  pierced,  for  his 
sweat  vexed  it  by  reason  of  the  broad  baldrick  of  his  round 
shield ;  therewith  was  he  vexed  and  his  arm  grew  weary,  so 
he  was  lifting  up  the  baldrick  and  wiping  away  the  dusky 
blood.  Then  the  goddess  laid  her  hand  on  his  horses'  yoke, 
and  said:  "Of  a  truth  Tydeus  begat  a  son  little  after  his 
own  likeness.  Tydeus  was  short  of  stature,  but  a  man  of 
war;  yea  even  when  I  would  not  have  him  fight  nor  make 
display — what  time  he  came  apart  from  the  Achaians  on  an 
embassage  to  Thebes,  to  the  midst  of  the  multitude  of  the 
Kadmeians,  I  bade  him  feast  in  their  halls  at  peace;  but  he, 
possessing  his  valiant  soul  as  of  old  time,  challenged  the  young 
men  of  the  Kadmeians  and  in  everything  vanquished  them 
easily;  so  sure  a  helper  was  I  unto  him.  But  for  thee,  be- 
side thee  stand  I  and  guard  thee  and  with  all  my  heart  bid 
thee  fight  the  Trojans;  yet  either  hath  weariness  of  much 
striving  entered  into  thy  limbs,  or  disheartening  terror  hath 
taken  hold  of  thee.  If  that  be  so,  no  ofifspring  art  thou  of 
Tydeus,  the  wise  son  of  Oineus." 

And  stalwart  Diomedes  made  answer  to  her  and  said: 
"I  know  thee,  goddess  daughter  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus:  there- 
fore with  my  whole  heart  will  I  tell  thee  my  thought  and 
hide  it  not.  Neither  hath  disheartening  terror  taken  hold 
upon  me,  nor  any  faintness,  but  I  am  still  mindful  of  thy 
behest  that  thou  didst  lay  upon  me.  Thou  forbadest  me  to 
fight  face  to  face  with  all  the  blessed  gods,  save  only  If  Zeus' 
daughter  Aphrodite  should  enter  into  battle,  then  to  wound 


116  HOMER 

her  with  the  keen  bronze.  Therefore  do  I  now  give  ground 
myself  and  have  bidden  all  the  Argives  likewise  to  gather 
here  together;  for  I  discern  Ares  lording  it  in  the  fray." 

Then  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  answered  him:  "Dio- 
medes  son  of  Tydeus,  thou  joy  of  mine  heart,  fear  thou,  for 
that,  neither  Ares  nor  any  other  of  the  immortals;  so  great 
a  helper  am  I  to  thee.  Go  to  now,  at  Ares  first  guide  thou  thy 
whole-hooved  horses,  and  smite  him  hand  to  hand,  nor  have 
any  awe  of  impetuous  Ares,  raving  here,  a  curse  incarnate, 
the  renegade  that  of  late  in  converse  with  me  and  Hera 
pledged  him  to  fight  against  the  Trojans  and  give  succour  to 
the  Argives,  but  now  consorteth  with  the  Trojans  and  hath 
forgotten  thee." 

So  speaking,  with  her  hand  she  drew  back  Sthenelos  and 
thrust  him  from  the  chariot  to  earth,  and  instantly  leapt  he 
down;  so  the  goddess  mounted  the  car  by  noble  Diomedes' 
side  right  eagerly.  The  oaken  axle  creaked  loud  witli  its 
burden,  bearing  the  dread  goddess  and  the  man  of  might. 
Then  Pallas  Athene  grasped  the  whip  and  reins;  forthwith 
against  Ares  first  guided  she  the  whole-hooved  horses.  Now 
he  was  stripping  huge  Periphas,  most  valiant  far  of  the  Aito- 
lians,  Ochesios'  glorious  son.  Him  was  blood-stained  Ares 
stripping;  and  Athene  donned  the  helm  of  Hades,  that  terrible 
Ares  might  not  behold  her.  Now  when  Ares  scourge  of 
mortals  beheld  noble  Diomedes,  he  left  huge  Periphas  lying 
there,  where  at  the  first  he  had  slain  him  and  taken  away  his 
life,  and  made  straight  at  Diomedes  tamer  of  horses.  Now 
when  they  were  come  nigh  in  onset  on  one  another,  first  Ares 
thrust  over  the  yoke  and  horses'  reins  with  spear  of  bronze, 
eager  to  take  away  his  life.  But  the  bright-eyed  goddess 
Athene  with  her  hand  seized  the  spear  and  thrust  it  up  over 
the  car,  to  spend  itself  in  vain.  Next  Diomedes  of  the  loud 
war-cry  attacked  with  spear  of  bronze;  and  Pallas  Athene 
drave  it  home  against  Ares'  nethermost  belly,  where  his  tas- 
lets  were  girt  about  him.  There  smote  he  him  and  wounded 
him,  rending  through  his  fair  skin,  and  plucked  forth  the 
spear  again.  Then  brazen  Ares  bellowed  loud  as  nine  thou- 
sand warriors  or  ten  thousand  cry  in  battle  as  they  join  in 
strife  and  fray.     Thereat  trembling  gat  hold  of  Achaians  and 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   V  117 

Trojans    for    fear,   so   mightily   bellowed   Ares   insatiate  of 
battle. 

Even  as  gloomy  mist  appeareth  from  the  clouds  when 
after  heat  a  stormy  wind  ariseth,  even  so  to  Tydeus'  son 
Diomedes  brazen  Ares  appeared  amid  clouds,  faring  to  wide 
heaven.  Swiftly  came  he  to  the  gods'  dwelling,  steep  Olym- 
pus, and  sat  beside  Zeus  son  of  Kronos  with  grief  at  heart, 
and  shewed  the  immortal  blood  flowing  from  the  wound, 
and  piteously  spake  to  him  winged  words:  "Father  Zeus,  hast 
thou  no  indignation  to  behold  these  violent  deeds?  For  ever 
cruelly  suffer  the  gods  by  one  another's  devices,  in  shewing 
men  grace.  With  thee  are  we  all  at  variance,  because  thou 
didst  beget  that  reckless  maiden  and  baleful,  whose  thought 
is  ever  of  iniquitous  deeds.  For  all  the  other  gods  that  are 
in  Olympus  hearken  to  thee,  and  we  are  subject  every  one; 
only  her  thou  chastenest  not,  neither  in  deed  nor  word,  but 
settest  her  on,  because  this  pestilent  one  is  thine  own  offspring. 
Now  hath  she  urged  on  Tydeus'  son,  even  overweening  Dio- 
medes, to  rage  furiously  against  the  immortal  gods.  Kypris 
first  he  wounded  in  close  fight,  in  the  wrist  of  her  hand,  and 
then  assailed  he  me,  even  me,  with  the  might  of  a  god.  How- 
beit  my  swift  feet  bar^  me  away;  else  had  I  long  endured 
anguish  there  amid  the  grisly  heaps  of  dead,  or  else  had  lived 
strengthless  from  the  smitings  of  the  spear." 

Then  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  looked  sternly  at  him  and 
said:  "Nay,  thou  renegade,  sit  not  by  me  and  whine.  Most 
hateful  to  me  art  thou  of  all  gods  that  dwell  in  Olympus; 
thou  ever  lovest  strife  and  wars  and  battles.  Truly  thy 
mother's  spirit  is  intolerable,  unyielding,  even  Hera's;  her 
can  I  scarce  rule  with  words.  Therefore  I  deem  that  by  her 
prompting  thou  art  in  this  plight.  Yet  will  I  no  longer  endure 
to  see  thee  in  anguish ;  mine  offspring  art  thou,  and  to  me  thy 
mother  bare  thee.  But  wert  thou  born  of  any  other  god  unto 
this  violence,  long  ere  this  hadst  thou  been  lower  than  the 
sons  of  Heaven  [the  Titans,  imprisoned  in  Tartaros]." 

So  spake  he  and  bade  Paieon  heal  him.  And  Paieon  laid 
assuaging  drugs  upon  the  wounded  and  healed  him;  seeing 
he  was  verily  of  no  mortal  substance.  Even  as  fig  juice 
maketh  haste  to  thicken  white  milk,  that  is  liquid  but  curdleth 


118  HOMER 

speedily  as  a  man  stirreth,  even  so  swiftly  healed  he  impetuous 
Ares.  And  Hebe  bathed  him,  and  clothed  him  in  gracious 
raiment,  and  he  sate  him  down  by  Zeus  son  of  Kronos,  glory- 
ing in  his  might. 

Then  fared  the  twain  back  to  the  mansion  of  great  Zeus, 
even  Hera  of  Argos  and  Alalkomenean  Athene,  having  stayed 
Ares  scourge  of  mortals  from  his  man-slaying. 


BOOK  VI 

How  Diomedes  and  Glaukos  being  about  to  fight,  were  known  to 
each  other,  and  parted  in  friendliness.  And  how  Hector  returning 
to  the  city  bade  farewell  to  Andromache  his  wife. 

So  was  the  dread  fray  of  Trojans  and  Achaians  left  to  it- 
self, and  the  battle  swayed  oft  this  way  and  that  across  the 
plain,  as  they  aimed  against  each  other  their  bronze-shod  jave- 
lins, between  Simoeis  and  the  streams  of  Xanthos. 

First  Aias  son  of  Telamon,  bulwark  of  the  Achaians,  brake 
a  battalion  of  the  Trojans  and  brought  his  comrades  salvation, 
smiting  a  warrior  that  was  chiefest  among  the  Thracians, 
Eussoros'  son  Akamas  the  goodly  and  great.  Him  first  he 
smote  upon  his  thick-crested  helmet-ridge  and  drave  into  his 
forehead,  so  that  the  point  of  bronze  pierced  into  the  bone ;  and 
darkness  shrouded  his  eyes. 

Then  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  slew  Axylos  Teuth- 
ranos'  son  that  dwelt  in  stablished  Arisbe,  a  man  of  substance 
dear  to  his  fellows ;  for  his  dwelling  was  by  the  roadside  and  lie 
entertained  all  men.  Howbeit  of  all  these  was  there  then  not 
one  to  meet  the  foe  before  his  face  and  save  him  from  fell 
destruction;  but  Diomedes  took  the  life  of  both  of  them,  even 
of  him  and  Kalesios  his  squire  that  now  was  the  driver  of 
his  chariot ;  so  passed  both  below  the  earth. 

And  Euryalos  slew  Dresos  and  Opheltios,  and  followed 
after  Aisepos  and  Pedasos  whom  erst  the  fountain-nymph 
Abarbarea  bare  to  noble  Boukolion,     Now  Boukolion  was  son 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  VI  119 

of  proud  Laomedon,  his  eldest  born,  begotten  of  a  mother 
unwedded;  and  as  he  tended  his  flocks  he  had  converse  with 
the  nymph  in  love,  and  she  conceived  and  bare  twin  sons. 
And  lo,  the  strength  of  these  and  their  glorious  limbs  Mekis- 
teus'  son  unstrung,  and  stripped  the  armour  from  their  shoul- 
ders. And  stubborn  Polypoites  slew  Astyalos,  and  Odysseus 
with  spear  of  bronze  laid  low  Pidytes  of  Perkote,  and  so  did 
Teukros  to  goodly  Aretaon.  Then  was  Ableros  killed  by  the 
glistening  spear  of  Antilochos,  Nestor's  son,  and  Elatos 
by  Agamemnon  king  of  men;  beside  the  banks  of  fair-flowing 
Satnioeis  dwelt  he  in  steep  Pedasos.  And  Leitos  the  warrior 
caught  Phylakos,  as  he  fled ;  and  Eurypylos  slew  Melanthios. 

Now  did  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  take  Adrestos 
alive;  for  his  horses  took  flight  across  the  plain,  and  stum- 
bling in  a  tamarisk  bough  brake  the  curved  car  at  the  pole's 
foot;  so  they  themselves  fared  towards  the  city  where  the 
rest  were  fleeing  in  rout,  and  their  lord  rolled  from  out  the 
car  beside  the  wheel,  prone  in  the  dust  upon  his  face.  Then 
came  Atreus'  son  Menelaos  to  his  side  bearing  his  far-shadow- 
ing spear.  Thereat  Adrestos  caught  him  by  his  knees  and 
besought  him:  "Take  me  captive,  thou  son  of  Atreus,  and 
accept  a  worthy  ransom;  many  a  treasure  is  stored  up  in 
my  father's  rich  palace,  bronze  and  gold  and  smithied  iron; 
thereof  would  my  father  yield  thee  ransom  beyond  the  telling, 
if  he  but  heard  that  I  am  alive  at  the  ships  of  the  Achaians." 

So  spake  he,  and  moved  the  spirit  in  his  breast.  And  now 
had  he  forthwith  given  him  to  his  squire  to  lead  him  to  the 
Achaians'  fleet  ships,  but  that  Agamemnon  came  running  to 
meet  him,  and  spake  a  word  of  chiding  to  him :  "Good  Mene- 
laos, why  art  thou  so  careful  of  the  foemen?  Have  then 
such  good  deeds  been  wrought  thee  in  thy  house  by  Trojans? 
Of  them  let  not  one  escape  sheer  destruction  at  our  hands,  not 
even  the  man-child  that  the  mother  beareth  in  her  womb ;  let 
not  even  him  escape,  but  all  perish  together  out  of  Ilios,  un- 
cared  for  and  unknown. 

So  spake  the  hero  and  turned  his  brother's  mind  with 
righteous  persuasion;  so  with  his  hand  he  thrust  the  hero 
Adrestos  from  him,  and  lord  Agamemnon  smote  him  in  the 


120  HOMER 

flank,  and  he  was  overthrown,  and  Atreus'  son  set  his  heel 
upon  his  chest  and  pluclced  forth  his  ashen  spear. 

Then  Nestor  called  to  the  Argives  with  far-reaching  shout : 
"My  friends,  Danaan  warriors,  men  of  Ares'  company,  let 
no  man  now  take  thought  of  spoils  to  tarry  behind,  that  he 
may  bring  the  greatest  burden  to  the  ships ;  but  let  us  slay  the 
foemen.  Thereafter  shall  ye  at  your  ease  also  strip  of  their 
spoil  the  dead  corpses  about  the  plain." 

So  spake  he  and  stirred  the  spirit  and  soul  of  every  man. 
Now  had  the  Trojans  been  chased  again  by  the  Achaians,  dear 
to  Ares,  up  into  Ilios,  in  their  weakness  overcome,  but  that 
Priam's  son  Helenos,  far  best  of  augurs,  stood  by  Aineias'  side 
and  Hector's,  and  spake  to  them:  "Aineias  and  Hector,  seeing 
that  on  you  lieth  the  task  of  war  in  chief  of  Trojans  and 
Lykians,  because  for  every  issue  ye  are  foremost  both  for 
fight  and  counsel,  stand  ye  your  ground,  and  range  the  host 
everywhither  to  rally  them  before  the  gates,  ere  yet  they 
fall  fleeing  in  their  women's  arms,  and  be  made  a  rejoicing  to 
the  foe.  Then  when  ye  have  aroused  all  our  battalions  we 
will  abide  here  and  fight  the  Danaans,  though  in  sore  weari- 
ness; for  necessity  presseth  us  hard;  but  thou,  Hector,  go 
into  the  city,  and  speak  there  to  thy  mother  and  mine;  let 
her  gather  the  aged  wives  to  bright-eyed  Athene's  temple  in 
the  upper  city,  and  with  her  key  open  the  doors  of  the  holy 
house;  and  let  her  lay  the  robe,  that  seemeth  to  her  the  most 
gracious  and  greatest  in  her  hall  and  far  dearest  unto  herself, 
upon  the  knees  of  beauteous-haired  Athene;  and  vow  to  her 
to  sacrifice  in  her  temple  twelve  sleek  kine,  that  have  not 
felt  the  goad,  if  she  will  have  mercy  on  the  city  and  the  Tro- 
jans' wives  and  little  children.  So  may  she  perchance  hold 
back  Tydeus'  son  from  holy  Ilios,  the  furious  spearman,  the 
mighty  deviser  of  rout,  whom  in  good  sooth  I  deem  to  have 
proved  himself  mightiest  of  the  Achaians.  Never  in  this 
wise  feared  we  Achilles,  prince  of  men,  who  they  say  is  born 
of  a  goddess ;  nay,  but  he  that  we  see  is  beyond  measure  furi- 
ous; none  can  match  him  for  might." 

So  spake  he,  and  Hector  disregarded  not  his  brother's 
word,  but  leapt  forthwith  from  his  chariot  in  his  armour  to 
earth,  and  brandishing  two  sharp  spears  passed  everywhere 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VI  121 

through  the  host,  rousing  them  to  battle,  and  stirred  the 
dread  war-cry.  So  they  were  rallied  and  stood  to  face  the 
Achaians,  and  the  Argives  gave  ground  and  ceased  from 
slaughter,  and  deemed  that  some  immortal  had  descended  from 
starry  heaven  to  bring  the  Trojans  succour,  in  such  wise 
rallied  they.  Then  Hector  called  to  the  Trojans  with  far- 
reaching  shout :  "O  high-souled  Trojans  and  ye  far-famed 
allies,  quit  you  like  men,  my  friends,  and  take  thought  of  im- 
petuous courage,  while  I  depart  to  Ilios  and  bid  the  elders  of 
the  council  and  our  wives  pray  to  the  gods  and  vow  them 
hecatombs." 

So  saying  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  departed,  and  the 
black  hide  beat  on  either  side  against  his  ankles  and  his  neck, 
even  the  rim  that  ran  uttermost  about  his  bossed  shield. 

Now  Glaukos  son  of  Hippolochos  and  Tydeus'  son  met  in 
the  mid-space  of  the  foes,  eager  to  do  battle.  Thus  when  the 
twain  were  come  nigh  m  onset  on  each  other,  to  him  first 
spake  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry:  "Who  art  thou,  noble 
sir,  of  mortal  men  ?  For  never  have  I  beheld  thee  in  glorious 
battle  ere  this,  yet  now  hast  thou  far  outstripped  all  men  in 
thy  hardihood,  seeing  thou  abidest  my  far-shadowing  spear. 
Luckless  are  the  fathers  whose  children  face  my  might.  But  if 
thou  art  some  immortal  come  down  from  heaven,  then  will 
not  I  fight  with  heavenly  gods.  Nay  moreover  even  Dryas' 
son  mighty  Lykurgos  was  not  for  long  when  he  strove  with 
heavenly  gods,  he  that  erst  chased  through  the  goodly  land 
of  Nysa  the  nursing-mothers  of  frenzied  Dionysos ;  and  they 
all  cast  their  wands  upon  the  ground,  smitten  with  murderous 
Lykurgos'  ox-goad.  Then  Dionysos  fled  and  plunged  beneath 
the  salt  sea-wave,  and  Thetis  took  him  to  her  bosom,  affrighted, 
for  a  mighty  trembling  had  seized  him  at  his  foe's  rebuke. 
But  with  Lykurgos  the  gods  that  live  at  ease  were  wroth,  and 
Kronos'  son  made  him  blind,  and  he  was  not  for  long,  be- 
cause he  was  hated  of  all  the  immortal  gods.  So  would  neither 
I  be  fain  to  fight  the  blessed  gods.  But  if  thou  art  of  men 
that  eat  the  fruit  of  the  field,  come  nigh,  that  anon  thou  mayest 
enter  the  toils  of  destruction." 

Then  Hippolochos'  glorious  son  made  answer  to  him: 
"Great-hearted  Tydeides,  why  enquirest  thou  of  my  genera- 


122  HOMER 

tion?  Even  as  are  the  generations  of  leaves  such  are  those 
likewise  of  men;  the  leaves  that  be  the  wind  scattereth  on  the 
earth,  and  the  forest  buddeth  and  putteth  forth  more  again, 
when  the  season  of  spring  is  at  hand ;  so  of  the  generations  of 
men  one  putteth  forth  and  another  ceaseth.  Yet  if  thou 
wilt,  have  thine  answer,  that  thou  mayest  well  know  our 
lineage,  whereof  many  men  have  knowledge.  There  is  a 
city  Ephyre  in  the  heart  of  Argos,  pasture  land  of  horses,  and 
there  dwelt  Sisyphos  that  was  craftiest  of  men,  Sisyphos  son 
of  Aiolos;  and  he  begat  a  son,  even  Glaukos,  and  Glaukos 
begat  noble  Bellerophon.  To  him  the  gods  granted  beauty  and 
lovely  manhood ;  but  Proitos  in  his  heart  devised  ill  for  him, 
and  being  mightier  far  drave  him  from  the  land  of  the  Ar- 
gives,  whom  Zeus  had  made  subject  to  his  sceptre.  Now 
Proitos'  wife,  goodly  Anteia,  lusted  after  him,  to  have  con- 
verse in  secret  love,  but  no  whit  prevailed  she,  for  the  up- 
rightness of  his  heart,  on  wise  Bellerophon,  Then  spake  she 
lyingly  to  king  Proitos :  *  Die,  Proitos,  or  else  slay  Bellerophon, 
that  would  have  converse  in  love  with  me  against  my  will.' 
So  spake  she,  and  anger  gat  hold  upon  the  king  at  that  he 
heard.  To  slay  him  he  forbare,  for  his  soul  had  shame  of  that ; 
but  he  sent  him  to  Lykia,  and  gave  him  tokens  of  woe,  graving 
in  a  folded  tablet  many  deadly  things,  and  bade  him  shew 
these  to  Anteia's  father,  that  he  might  be  slain.  So  fared  he 
to  Lykia  by  the  blameless  convoy  of  the  gods.  Now  when  he 
came  to  Lykia  and  the  stream  of  Xanthos,  then  did  the  king 
of  wide  Lykia  honour  him  with  all  his  heart;  nine  days  he 
entertained  him  and  killed  nine  oxen.  And  when  on  the  tenth 
day  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  then  he  questioned  him  and 
asked  to  see  what  token  he  bare  from  his  son-in-law,  even 
Proitos.  Now  when  he  had  received  of  him  Proitos'  evil 
token,  first  he  bade  him  slay  Chimaira  the  unconquerable.  Of 
divine  birth  was  she  and  not  of  men,  in  front  a  lion,  and  be- 
hind a  serpent,  and  in  the  midst  a  goat;  and  she  breathed 
dread  fierceness  of  blazing  fire.  And  her  he  slew,  obedient 
to  the  signs  of  heaven.  Next  fought  he  with  the  famed  Solymi ; 
this,  said  he,  was  the  mightiest  battle  of  warriors  wherein  he 
entered.  And  thirdly  he  slew  the  Amazons,  women  peers  of 
men.     And  as  he  turned  back  therefrom,  the  king  devised  an- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VI  123 

other  cunning  wile;  he  picked  from  wide  Lykia  the  bravest 
men,  and  set  an  ambush.  But  these  returned  nowise  home 
again;  for  noble  Bellerophon  slew  them  all.  So  when  the 
king  now  knew  that  he  was  the  brave  offspring  of  a  god,  he 
kept  him  there,  and  plighted  him  his  daughter,  and  gave  him 
the  half  of  all  the  honour  of  his  kingdom;  moreover  the  Lyk- 
ians  meted  him  a  domain  preeminent  above  all,  fair  with  vine- 
yards and  tilth  to  possess  it.  And  his  wife  bare  wise  Bellero- 
phon three  children,  Isandros  and  Hippolochos  and  Laodameia. 
With  Laodomeia  lay  Zeus  the  lord  of  counsel,  and  she  bare 
godlike  Sarpedon,  the  warrior  with  arms  of  bronze.  But  when 
even  Bellerophon  came  to  be  hated  of  all  the  gods,  then  wan- 
dered he  alone  in  the  Aleian  plain,  devouring  his  own  soul,  and 
avoiding  the  paths  of  men;  and  Isandros  his  son  was  slain  by 
Ares  insatiate  of  battle,  as  he  fought  against  the  famed  Solymi, 
and  his  daughter  was  slain  in  wrath  of  gold-gleaming  Artemis, 
But  Hippolochos  begat  me,  and  of  him  do  I  declare  me  to  be 
sprung;  he  sent  me  to  Troy  and  bade  me  very  instantly  to  be 
ever  the  best,  and  to  excel  all  other  men,  nor  put  to  shame  the 
lineage  of  my  fathers  that  were  of  noblest  blood  in  Ephyre  and 
in  wide  Lykia.  This  is  the  lineage  and  blood  whereof  I  avow 
myself  to  be." 

So  said  he,  and  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  was  glad. 
He  planted  his  spear  in  the  bounteous  earth  and  with  soft 
words  spake  to  the  shepherd  of  the  host:  "Surely  then  thou 
art  to  me  a  guest-friend  of  old  times  through  my  father;  for 
goodly  Oineus  of  yore  entertained  noble  Bellerophon  in  his 
halls  and  kept  him  twenty  days.  Moreover  they  gave  each 
the  other  goodly  gifts  of  friendship;  Oineus  gave  a  belt  bright 
with  purple,  and  Bellerophon  a  gold  twy-handled  cup,  the 
which  when  I  came  I  left  in  my  palace.  But  of  Tydeus  I  re- 
member naught,  seeing  I  was  yet  little  when  he  left  me,  what 
time  the  Achaian  host  perished  at  Thebes.  Therefore  now  am 
I  to  thee  a  dear  guest-friend  in  midmost  Argos,  and  thou  in 
Lykia,  whene'er  I  fare  to  your  land.  So  let  us  shun  each 
other's  spears,  even  amid  the  throng;  Trojans  are  they  there 
in  multitudes  and  famous  allies  for  me  to  slay,  whoe'er  it  be 
that  God  vouchsafeth  me  and  my  feet  overtake ;  and  for  thee 
are  there  Achaians  in  multitude,  to  slay  whome'er  thou  canst. 


124  HOMER 

But  let  us  make  exchange  of  arms  between  us,  that  these  also 
may  know  how  we  avow  ourselves  to  be  guest-friends  by 
lineage." 

So  spake  the  twain,  and  leaping  from  their  cars  clasped 
each  the  other  by  his  hand,  and  pledged  their  faith.  But  now 
Zeus  son  of  Kronos  took  from  Glaukos  his  wits,  in  that  he 
made  exchange  with  Diomedes  Tydeus'  son  of  golden  ar- 
mour for  bronze,  the  price  of  five  score  oxen  for  the  price 
of  nine. 

Now  when  Hector  came  to  the  Skaian  gates  and  to  the 
oak-tree,  there  came  running  round  about  him  the  Trojans' 
wives  and  daughters,  enquiring  of  sons  and  brethren  and 
friends  and  husbands.  But  he  bade  them  thereat  all  in  turn 
pray  to  the  gods ;  but  sorrow  hung  over  many. 

But  when  he  came  to  Priam's  beautiful  palace,  adorned 
with  polished  colonnades — and  in  it  were  fifty  chambers  of 
polished  stone,  builded  hard  by  one  another,  wherein  Priam's 
sons  slept  beside  their  wedded  wives;  and  for  his  daughters 
over  against  them  on  the  other  side  within  the  courtyard 
were  twelve  roofed  chambers  of  polished  stone  builded  hard 
by  one  another,  wherein  slept  Priam's  sons-in-law  beside  their 
chaste  wives — then  came  there  to  meet  him  his  bountiful 
mother,  leading  with  her  Laodike,  fairest  of  her  daughters 
to  look  on;  and  she  clasped  her  hand  in  his,  and  spake,  and 
called  upon  his  name:  "My  son,  why  hast  thou  left  violent 
battle  to  come  hither?  Surely  the  sons  of  the  Achaians — 
name  of  evil! — press  thee  hard  in  fight  about  thy  city,  and 
so  thy  spirit  hath  brought  thee  hither,  to  come  and  stretch 
forth  thy  hands  to  Zeus  from  the  citadel.  But  tarry  till  I 
bring  thee  honey-sweet  wine,  that  thou  mayest  pour  libation 
to  Zeus  and  all  the  immortals  first,  and  then  shalt  thou  thy- 
self also  be  refreshed  if  thou  wilt  drink.  When  a  man  is 
awearied  wine  greatly  maketh  his  strength  to  wax,  even  as 
thou  art  awearied  in  fighting  for  thy  fellows." 

Then  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  answered  her: 
"Bring  me  no  honey-hearted  wine,  my  lady  mother,  lest  thou 
cripple  me  of  my  courage  and  I  be  forgetful  of  my  might. 
Moreover  I  have  awe  to  make  libation  of  gleaming  wine  to 
Zeus  with  hands  unwashen ;  nor  can  it  be  in  any  wise  that  one 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VI  125 

should  pray  to  the  son  of  Kronos,  god  of  the  storm-cloud,  all 
defiled  with  blood  and  filth.  But  go  thou  to  the  temple  of 
Athene,  driver  of  the  spoil,  with  offerings,  and  gather  the 
aged  wives  together;  and  the  robe  that  seemeth  to  thee  the 
most  gracious  and  greatest  in  thy  palace,  and  dearest  unto 
thyself,  that  lay  thou  upon  the  knees  of  beauteous-haired 
Athene,  and  vow  to  her  to  sacrifice  in  her  temple  twelve 
sleek  kine,  that  have  not  felt  the  goad,  if  she  will  have  mercy 
on  the  city  and  the  Trojans'  wives  and  little  children.  So 
may  she  perchance  hold  back  Tydeus'  son  from  holy  Ilios,  the 
furious  spearman,  the  mighty  deviser  of  rout.  So  go  thou 
to  the  temple  of  Athene,  driver  of  the  spoil;  and  I  will  go 
after  Paris,  to  summon  him,  if  perchance  he  will  hearken  to 
my  voice.  Would  that  the  earth  forthwith  might  swallow 
him  up!  The  Olympian  fostered  him  to  be  a  sore  bane  to 
the  Trojans  and  to  great-hearted  Priam,  and  to  Priam's  sons. 
If  I  but  saw  him  going  down  to  the  gates  of  death,  then 
might  I  deem  that  my  heart  had  forgotten  its  sorrow." 

So  said  he,  and  she  went  unto  the  hall,  and  called  to  her 
handmaidens,  and  they  gathered  the  aged  wives  throughout 
the  city.  Then  she  herself  went  down  to  her  fragrant  cham- 
ber where  were  her  embroidered  robes,  the  work  of  Sidonian 
women,  whom  godlike  Alexandros  himself  brought  from 
Sidon,  when  he  sailed  over  the  wide  sea,  that  journey  wherein 
he  brought  home  high-born  Helen.  Of  these  Hekabe  took 
one  to  bear  for  an  offering  to  Athene,  the  one  that  was  fairest 
for  adornment  and  greatest,  and  shone  like  a  star,  and  lay 
nethermost  of  all.  Then  went  she  her  way  and  the  multi- 
tude of  aged  wives  hasted  after  her. 

Now  when  they  came  to  the  temple  of  Athene  in  the 
citadel,  fair-cheeked  Theano  opened  them  the  doors,  even 
Kisseus'  daughter,  wife  of  horse-taming  Antenor;  for  her  the 
Trojans  had  made  priestess  of  Athene.  Then  lifted  they 
all  their  hands  to  Athene  with  lamentation:  and  fair-cheeked 
Theano  took  the  robe  and  laid  it  on  the  knees  of  beauteous- 
haired  Athene,  and  lifted  up  her  voice  and  prayed  to  the 
daughter  of  great  Zeus :  "Lady  Athene,  saviour  of  the  city, 
fair  among  goddesses,  break  now  Diomedes'  spear,  and  grant 
moreover  that  himself  may  fall  prone  before  the  Skaian  gates; 


126  HOMER 

that  we  may  sacrifice  thee  now  forthwith  in  thy  temple 
twelve  sleek  kine,  that  have  not  felt  the  goad,  if  thou  wilt 
have  mercy  on  the  city  and  the  Trojans'  wives  and  little 
children."  So  spake  she  praying,  but  Pallas  Athene  denied 
the  prayer. 

So  were  these  praying  to  the  daughter  of  great  Zeus;  and 
Hector  was  come  to  Alexandros'  fair  palace,  that  himself 
had  builded  with  them  that  were  most  excellent  carpenters 
then  in  deep-soiled  Troy-land;  these  made  him  his  chamber 
and  hall  and  courtyard  hard  by  to  Priam  and  Hector,  in  the 
upper  city.  There  entered  in  Hector  dear  to  Zeus,  and  his 
hand  bare  his  spear,  eleven  cubits  long;  before  his  face  glit- 
tered the  bronze  spear-point,  and  a  ring  of  gold  ran  round 
about  it.  And  he  found  Paris  in  his  chamber  busied  with 
his  beauteous  arms,  his  shield  and  breastplate,  and  handling  his 
curved  bow;  and  Helen  of  Argos  sate  among  her  serving- 
women  and  appointed  brave  handiwork  for  her  handmaidens. 
Then  when  Hector  saw  him  he  rebuked  him  with  scornful 
words:  "Good  sir,  thou  dost  not  well  to  cherish  this  rancour 
in  thy  heart.  The  folk  arc  perishing  about  the  city  and  higli 
wall  in  battle,  and  for  thy  sake  the  battle-cry  is  kindled  and 
war  around  this  city;  yea  thyself  wouldest  thou  fall  out  with 
another,  didst  thou  see  him  shrinking  from  hateful  war.  Up 
then,  lest  the  city  soon  be  scorched  with  burning  fire." 

And  godlike  Alexandros  answered  him:  "Hector,  since  in 
measure  thou  chidest  me  and  not  beyond  measure,  therefore 
will  I  tell  thee;  lay  thou  it  to  thine  heart  and  hearken  to  me. 
Not  by  reason  so  much  of  the  Trojans,  for  wrath  and  indigna- 
tion, sate  I  me  in  my  chamber,  but  fain  would  I  yield  me  to 
my  sorrow.  Even  now  my  wife  hath  persuaded  me  with 
soft  words,  and  urged  me  into  battle ;  and  I  moreover,  even  I, 
deem  that  it  will  be  better  so;  for  victory  shifteth  from  man 
to  man.  Go  to  then,  tarry  awhile,  let  me  put  on  my  ar- 
mour of  war;  or  else  fare  thou  forth,  and  I  will  follow;  and  I 
think  to  overtake  thee." 

So  said  he,  but  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  answered  him 
not  a  word.  But  Helen  spake  to  him  with  gentle  words: 
"My  brother,  even  mine  that  am  a  dog,  mischievous  and 
abominable,  would  that  on  the  day  when  my  mother  bare 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   Yl  127 

me  at  the  first,  an  evil  storm-wind  had  caught  me  away  to  a 
mountain  or  a  billow  of  the  loud-sounding  sea,  where  the  bil- 
low might  have  swept  me  away  before  all  these  things  came 
to  pass.  Howbeit,  seeing  the  gods  devised  all  these  ills  in  this 
wise,  would  that  then  I  had  been  mated  with  a  better  man, 
that  felt  dishonour  and  the  multitude  of  men's  reproachings. 
But  as  for  him,  neither  hath  he  now  sound  heart,  nor  ever 
will  have;  thereof  deem  I  moreover  that  he  will  reap  the 
fruit.  But  now  come,  enter  in  and  sit  thee  here  upon  this 
bench,  my  brother,  since  thy  heart  chiefly  trouble  hath  encom- 
passed, for  the  sake  of  me,  that  am  a  dog,  and  for  Alexan- 
dros'  sin;  on  whom  Zeus  bringeth  evil  doom,  that  even  in 
days  to  come  we  may  be  a  song  in  the  ears  of  men  that  shall 
be  hereafter." 

Then  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  answered  her: 
"Bid  me  not  sit,  Helen,  of  thy  love;  thou  wilt  not  persuade 
me.  Already  my  heart  is  set  to  succour  the  men  of  Troy,  and 
have  great  desire  for  me  that  am  not  with  them.  But  rouse 
thou  this  fellow,  yea  let  himself  make  speed,  to  overtake  me 
yet  within  the  city.  For  I  shall  go  into  mine  house  to  behold 
my  housefolk  and  my  dear  wife,  and  infant  boy;  for  I  know 
not  if  I  shall  return  home  to  them  again,  or  if  the  gods  will 
now  overthrow  me  at  the  hands  of  the  Achaians." 

So  spake  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  and  departed;  and 
anon  he  came  to  his  well  stablished  house.  But  he  found  not 
white-armed  Andromache  in  the  halls;  she  with  her  boy  and 
fair-robed  handmaiden  had  taken  her  stand  upon  the  tower, 
weeping  and  wailing.  And  when  Hector  found  not  his  noble 
wife  within,  he  came  and  stood  upon  the  threshold,  and  spake 
amid  the  serving  women :  "Come  tell  me  now  true,  my  serving 
women.  Whither  went  white-armed  Andromache  forth  from 
the  hall?  Hath  she  gone  out  to  my  sisters  or  unto  my  broth- 
ers' fair-robed  wives,  or  to  Athene's  temple,  where  all  the  fair- 
tressed  Trojan  women  propitiate  the   awful  goddess?" 

Then  a  busy  housedame  spake  in  answer  to  him:  "Hector, 
seeing  thou  straitly  chargest  us  tell  thee  true,  neither  hath 
she  gone  out  to  any  of  thy  sisters  or  thy  brothers'  fair-robed 
wives,  neither  to  Athene's  temple,  where  all  the  fair-tressed 
Trojan  women  are  propitiating  the  awful  goddess;  but  she 


128  HOMER 

went  to  the  great  tower  of  Ilios,  because  she  heard  the  Tro- 
jans were  hard  pressed,  and  great  victory  was  for  the  Achal- 
ans.  So  hath  she  come  in  haste  to  the  wall,  like  unto  one 
frenzied;  and  the  nurse  with  her  beareth  the  child." 

So  spake  the  housedame,  and  Hector  hastened  from  his 
house  back  by  the  same  way  down  the  well-builded  streets. 
When  he  had  passed  through  the  great  city  and  was  come  to 
the  Skaian  gates,  whereby  he  was  minded  to  issue  upon  the 
plain,  then  came  his  dear-won  wife,  running  to  meet  him,  even 
Andromache  daughter  of  the  great-hearted  Eetion,  Eetion  that 
dwelt  beneath  wooded  Plakos,  in  Thebe  under  Plakos,  and 
was  king  of  the  men  of  Kilikia;  for  his  daughter  was  wife 
to  bronze-harnessed  Hector.  So  she  met  him  now,  and  with 
her  went  the  handmaid  bearing  in  her  bosom  the  tender  boy, 
the  little  child,  Hector's  loved  son,  like  unto  a  beautiful  star. 
Him  Hector  called  Skamandrios,  but  all  the  folk  Astyanax 
[City  King]  ;  for  only  Hector  guarded  Ilios.  So  now  he 
smiled  and  gazed  at  his  boy  silently,  and  Andromache  stood 
by  his  side  weeping,  and  clasped  her  hand  in  his,  and  spake 
and  called  upon  his  name:  "Dear  my  lord,  this  thy  hardi- 
hood will  undo  thee,  neither  hast  thou  any  pity  for  thine 
infant  boy,  nor  for  me  forlorn  that  soon  shall  be  thy  widow; 
for  soon  will  the  Achaians  all  set  upon  thee  and  slay  thee. 
But  it  were  better  for  me  to  go  down  to  the  grave  if  I  lose 
thee;  for  never  more  will  any  comfort  be  mine,  when  once 
thou,  even  thou,  hast  met  thy  fate,  but  only  sorrow.  More- 
over I  have  no  father  nor  lady  mother;  my  father  was  slain 
of  goodly  Achilles,  for  he  wasted  the  populous  city  of  the 
Kilikians,  even  high-gated  Thebe  and  slew  Eetion;  yet  he 
despoiled  him  not,  for  his  soul  had  shame  of  that,  but  he 
burnt  him  in  his  inlaid  armour  and  raised  a  barrow  over 
him;  and  all  about  were  elm-trees  planted  by  the  mountain 
nymphs,  daughters  of  segis-bearing  Zeus.  And  the  seven 
brothers  that  were  mine  within  our  halls,  all  these  on  the 
self  same  day  went  within  the  house  of  Hades;  for  fleet- 
footed  goodly  Achilles  slew  them  all  amid  their  kine  of  trail- 
ing gait  and  white-fleeced  sheep.  And  my  mother,  that  was 
queen  beneath  wooded  Plakos,  her  brought  he  hither  with 
the  other  spoils,  but  afterward  took  a  ransom  untold  to  set 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VI  129 

her  free;  but  in  her  father's  halls  was  she  smitten  by  the 
Archer  Artemis.  Nay,  Hector,  thou  art  to  me  father  and 
lady  mother,  yea  and  brother,  even  as  thou  art  my  goodly  hus- 
band. Come  now,  have  pity  and  abide  here  upon  the  tower, 
lest  thou  make  thy  child  an  orphan  and  thy  wife  a  widow. 
And  stay  thy  folk  beside  the  fig-tree,  where  best  the  city  may 
be  scaled  and  the  wall  is  assailable.  Thrice  came  thither  the 
most  valiant  that  are  with  the  two  Aintes  and  famed  Idom- 
eneus  and  the  sons  of  Atreus  and  Tydeus'  valiant  son,  and 
essayed  to  enter;  whether  one  skilled  in  soothsaying  revealed 
it  to  them,  or  whether  their  own  spirit  urgeth  and  biddeth 
them  on." 

Then  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  answered  her: 
"Surely  I  take  thought  for  all  these  things,  my  wife;  but  I 
have  very  sore  shame  of  the  Trojans  and  Trojan  dames  with 
trailing  robes,  if  like  a  coward  I  shrink  away  from  battle. 
Moreover  mine  own  soul  forbiddeth  me,  seeing  I  have  learnt 
ever  to  be  valiant  and  fight  in  the  forefront  of  the  Trojans, 
winning  my  father's  great  glory  and  mine  own.  Yea  of 
a  surety  I  know  this  in  heart  and  soul ;  the  day  shall  come  for 
holy  Ilios  to  be  laid  low,  and  Priam  and  the  folk  of  Priam 
of  the  good  ashen  spear.  Yet  doth  the  anguish  of  the  Tro- 
jans hereafter  not  so  much  trouble  me,  neither  Hekabe's  own, 
neither  king  Priam's,  neither  my  brethren's,  the  many  and 
brave  that  shall  fall  in  the  dust  before  their  foemen,  as  doth 
thine  anguish  in  the  day  when  some  mail-clad  Achaian  shall 
lead  thee  weeping  and  rob  thee  of  the  light  of  freedom.  So 
shalt  thou  abide  in  Argos  and  ply  the  loom  at  another  woman's 
bidding,  and  bear  water  from  fount  Messeis  or  Hypereia,  be- 
ing grievously  entreated,  and  sore  constraint  shall  be  laid 
upon  thee.  And  then  shall  one  say  that  beholdeth  thee  weep : 
'This  is  the  wife  of  Hector,  that  was  foremost  in  battle  of  the 
horse-taming  Trojans  when  men  fought  about  Ilios.'  Thus 
shall  one  say  hereafter,  and  fresh  grief  will  be  thine  for 
lack  of  such  an  husband  as  thou  hadst  to  ward  off  the  day  of 
thraldom.  But  me  in  death  may  the  heaped-up  earth  be 
covering,  ere  I  hear  thy  crying  and  thy  carrying  into  cap- 
tivity." 

So  spake  glorious  Hector,  and  stretched  out  his  arm  to 


130  HOMER 

his  boy.  But  the  child  shrunk  crying  to  the  bosom  of  his 
fair-girdled  ntirse,  dismayed  at  his  dear  father's  aspect,  and 
in  dread  at  the  bronze  and  horse-hair  crest  that  he  beheld 
nodding  fiercely  from  the  helmet's  top.  Then  his  dear  father 
laughed  aloud,  and  his  lady  mother;  forthwith  glorious  Hec- 
tor took  the  helmet  from  his  head,  and  laid  it,  all  gleaming, 
upon  the  earth;  then  kissed  he  his  dear  son  and  dandled  him 
in  his  arms,  and  spake  in  prayer  to  Zeus  and  all  the  gods: 
"O  Zeus  and  all  ye  gods,  vouchsafe  ye  that  this  my  son  may 
likewise  prove  even  as  I,  preeminent  amid  the  Trojans,  and  as 
valiant  in  might,  and  be  a  great  king  of  Ilios.  Then  may  men 
say  of  him,  'Far  greater  is  he  than  his  father'  as  he  returneth 
home  from  battle;  and  may  he  bring  with  him  blood-stained 
spoils  from  the  foeman  he  hath  slain,  and  may  his  mother's 
heart  be  glad." 

So  spake  he,  and  laid  his  son  in  his  dear  wife's  arms; 
and  she  took  him  to  her  fragrant  bosom,  smiling  tearfully. 
And  her  husband  had  pity  to  see  her,  and  caressed  her  with 
his  hand,  and  spake  and  called  upon  her  name:  "Dear  one, 
I  pray  thee  be  not  of  oversorrowful  heart;  no  man  against 
my  fate  shall  hurl  me  to  hades;  only  destiny,  I  ween,  no 
man  hath  escaped,  be  he  coward  or  be  he  valiant,  when  once 
he  hath  been  born.  But  go  thou  to  thine  house  and  see  to 
thine  own  tasks,  the  loom  and  distaff,  and  bid  thine  hand- 
maidens ply  their  w^ork ;  but  for  war  shall  men  provide,  and  I 
in  chief  of  all  men  that  dwell  in  IHos." 

So  spake  glorious  Hector,  and  took  up  his  horse-hair 
crested  helmet;  and  his  dear  wife  departed  to  her  home,  oft 
looking  back,  and  letting  fall  big  tears.  Anon  she  came  to 
the  well-stablished  house  of  man-slaying  Hector,  and  found 
therein  her  many  handmaidens,  and  stirred  lamentation  in 
them  all.  So  bewailed  they  Hector,  while  yet  he  lived,  within 
his  house;  for  they  deemed  that  he  would  no  more  come 
back  to  them  from  battle,  nor  escape  the  fury  of  the  hands 
of  the   Achaians. 

Neither  lingered  Paris  long  in  his  lofty  house,  but  clothed 
on  him  his  brave  armour,  bedight  with  bronze,  and  hasted 
through  the  city,  trusting  to  his  nimble  feet.  Even  as  when 
a  stalled  horse,   full-fed  at  the  manger,  breaketh  his  tether 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VI  131 

and  speedeth  at  the  gallop  across  the  plain,  being  wont  to 
bathe  him  in  the  fair-flowing  stream,  exultingly;  and  holdeth 
his  head  on  high,  and  his  mane  floatetli  about  his  shoulders, 
and  he  trusteth  in  his  glory,  and  nimbly  his  limbs  bear  him 
to  the  haunts  and  pasturage  of  mares;  even  so  Priam's  son 
Paris,  glittering  in  his  armour  like  the  shining  sun,  strode 
from  high  Pergamos  laughingly,  and  his  swift  feet  bare  him. 
Forthwith  he  overtook  his  brother  noble  Hector,  even  as  he 
was  on  the  point  to  turn  him  away  from  the  spot  where  he 
had  dallied  with  his  wife.  To  him  first  spake  godlike  Alexan- 
dros:  "Sir,  in  good  sooth  I  have  delayed  thee  in  thine  haste 
by  my  tarrying,  and  came  not  rightly  as  thou  badest  me." 

And  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  answered  him  and  said : 
"Good  brother,  no  man  that  is  rightminded  could  make  light 
of  thy  doings  in  fight,  seeing  thou  art  strong;  but  thou  art 
willfully  remiss  and  hast  no  care;  and  for  this  my  heart  is 
grieved  within  me,  that  I  hear  shameful  words  concerning 
thee  in  the  Trojans'  mouths,  who  for  thy  sake  endure  much 
toil.  But  let  us  be  going;  all  this  will  we  make  good  here- 
after, if  Zeus  ever  vouchsafe  us  to  set  before  the  heavenly 
gods  that  are  for  everlasting  the  cup  of  deliverance  in  our 
halls,  when  we  have  chased  out  of  Troy-land  the  well-greaved 
Achaians." 


BOOK  VII 

Of  the  single  combat  between  Aias  and  Hector,  and  of  the  burying 
of  the  dead,  and  the  building  of  a  wall  about  the  Achaian  ships. 

So  Spake  glorious  Hector  and  issued  from  the  gates,  and 
with  him  went  his  brother  Alexandros;  and  both  were  eager 
of  soul  for  fight  and  battle.  Even  as  God  giveth  to  longing 
seamen  fair  wind  when  they  have  grown  weary  of  beating 
the  main  with  polished  oars,  and  their  limbs  are  fordone  with 
toil,  even  so  appeared  these  to  the  longing  Trojans. 

Then  the  one  of  them  slew  king  Are'ithoos'  son,  Menes- 


132  HOMER 

thios  dwelling  in  Arne,  whom  Are'ithoos  the  Macc-man  and 
ox-eyed  Phylomedusa  begat ;  and  the  other,  even  Hector,  with 
his  sharp  spear  smote  E'ioneus'  neck  beneath  his  bronze  hel- 
met-rim, and  unstrung  his  limbs.  And  Glaukos  son  of  Hip- 
polochos,  captain  of  the  men  of  Lykia,  cast  his  spear  at 
Iphinoos  through  the  press  of  battle,  even  at  the  son  of  Dexios, 
as  he  sprang  up  behind  his  fleet  mares,  and  smote  his  shoulder ; 
so  fell  he  from  his  chariot  to  earth  and  his  limbs  were  unstrung. 

Now  when  the  goddess  bright-eyed  Athene  marked  them 
making  havoc  of  the  Argives  in  the  press  of  battle,  she  darted 
down  from  the  crests  of  Olympus  to  holy  Ilios.  But  Apollo 
rose  to  meet  her,  for  he  beheld  her  from  Pergamos,  and  would 
have  victory  for  the  Trojans.  So  the  twain  met  each  the  other 
by  the  oak-tree.  To  her  spake  first  king  Apollo  son  of  Zeus : 
"Why  now  art  thou  come  thus  eagerly  from  Olympus,  thou 
daughter  of  great  Zeus,  and  why  hath  thy  high  heart  sent 
thee?  Surely  it  is  to  give  the  Danaans  unequal  victory  in 
battle !  seeing  thou  hast  no  mercy  on  the  Trojans,  that  perish. 
But  if  thou  wouldest  hearken  to  me — and  it  were  far  better 
so — let  us  now  stay  battle  and  warring  for  the  day ;  hereafter 
shall  they  fight  again,  till  they  reach  the  goal  of  Ilios,  since 
thus  it  seemeth  good  to  your  hearts,  goddesses  immortal,  to 
lay  waste  this  city." 

And  the  goddess  bright-eyed  Athene  made  answer  to  him : 
"So  be  it.  Far-darter;  in  this  mind  I  likewise  came  from 
Olympus  to  the  midst  of  Trojans  and  Achaians.  But  come, 
how  thinkest  thou  to  stay  the  battle  of  the  warriors  ?" 

And  king  Apollo,  son  of  Zeus,  made  answer  to  her:  "Let 
us  arouse  the  stalwart  spirit  of  horse-taming  Hector,  if  so  be 
he  will  challenge  some  one  of  the  Danaans  in  single  fight  man 
to  man  to  meet  him  in  deadly  combat.  So  shall  the  bronze- 
greaved  Achaians  be  jealous  and  stir  up  one  to  fight  singly 
with  goodly  Hector." 

So  spake  he  and  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  disre- 
garded not.  Now  Helenos  Priam's  dear  son  understood  in 
spirit  their  resolve  that  the  gods  in  counsel  had  approved ;  and 
he  went  to  Hector  and  stood  beside  him,  and  spake  a  Word  to 
him :  "Hector  son  of  Priam,  peer  of  Zeus  in  counsel,  wouldest 
thou  now  hearken  at  all  to  me?  for  I  am  thy  brother.     Make 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VII  133 

the  other  Trojans  sit,  and  all  the  Achaians,  and  thyself  chal- 
lenge him  that  is  best  of  the  Achaians  to  meet  thee  man  to 
man  in  deadly  combat.  It  is  not  yet  thy  destiny  to  die  and 
meet  thy  doom ;  for  thus  heard  I  the  voice  of  the  gods  that  are 
from  everlasting." 

So  said  he,  and  Hector  rejoiced  greatly  to  hear  his  say- 
ing, and  went  into  the  midst  and  refrained  the  battalions  of 
the  Trojans  with  his  spear  grasped  by  the  middle;  and  they 
all  sate  them  down :  and  Agamemnon  made  the  well-greaved 
Achaians  sit.  And  Athene  withal  and  Apollo  of  the  silver 
bow,  in  the  likeness  of  vulture  birds,  sate  them  upon  a  tall  oak 
holy  to  aegis-bearing  father  Zeus,  rejoicing  in  their  warriors; 
and  the  ranks  of  all  of  them  sate  close  together,  bristling  with 
shields  and  plumes  and  spears.  Even  as  there  spreadeth  across 
the  main  the  ripple  of  the  west  wind  newly  risen,  and  the  sea 
grows  black  beneath  it,  so  sate  the  ranks  of  Achaians  and  Tro- 
jans upon  the  plain.  And  Hector  spake  between  both  hosts : 
"Hearken  to  me,  Trojans  and  well-greaved  Achaians,  that  I 
may  speak  what  my  mind  within  my  breast  biddeth  me.  Our 
oaths  of  truce  Kronos'  son,  enthroned  on  high,  accomplished 
not;  but  evil  is  his  intent  and  ordinance  for  both  our  hosts, 
until  either  ye  take  fair-towered  Troy  or  yourselves  be  van- 
quished beside  your  seafaring  ships.  But  in  the  midst  of  you 
are  the  chief  est  of  all  the  Achaians;  therefore  now  let  the 
man  whose  heart  biddeth  him  fight  with  me  com,e  hither  from 
among  you  all  to  be  your  champion  against  goodly  Hector. 
And  this  declare  I,  and  be  Zeus  our  witness  thereto;  if  that 
man  slay  me  with  the  long-edged  sword,  let  him  spoil  me  of 
my  armour  and  bear  it  to  the  hollow  ships,  but  give  back  my 
body  to  my  home,  that  Trojans  and  Trojans'  wives  may  give 
me  my  due  of  burning  in  my  death.  But  if  I  slay  him  and 
Apollo  vouchsafe  me  glory,  I  will  spoil  him  of  his  armour 
and  bear  it  to  holy  Ilios  and  hang  it  upon  the  temple  of  far- 
darting  Apollo,  but  his  corpse  will  I  render  back  to  the  well- 
decked  ships,  that  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  may  entomb 
him,  and  build  him  a  barrow  beside  wide  Hellespont.  So 
shall  one  say  even  of  men  that  be  late  born,  as  he  saileth  in 
his  benched  ship  over  the  wine-dark  sea :  'This  is  the  barrow 
of  a  man  that  died  in  days  of  old,  a  champion  whom  glorious 


134  HOMER 

Hector  slew.'  So  shall  a  man  say  hereafter,  and  this  my  glory 
shall  never  die." 

So  spake  he  and  they  all  were  silent  and  held  their  peace ; 
to  deny  him  they  were  ashamed,  and  feared  to  meet  him.  But 
at  the  last  stood  up  Menelaos  and  spake  amid  them  and  chid- 
ing upbraided  them,  and  groaned  deep  at  heart:  "Ah  me, 
vain  threateners,  ye  women  of  Achaia  and  no  more  men,  siu"ely 
all  this  shall  be  a  shame,  evil  of  evil,  if  no  one  of  the  Danaans 
now  goeth  to  meet  Hector.  Nay,  turn  ye  all  to  earth  and 
water,  sitting  there  each  man  disheartened,  helplessly  inglori- 
ous; against  him  will  I  myself  array  me;  and  from  on  high 
the  threads  of  victory  are  guided  of  the  immortal  gods." 

So  spake  he  and  donned  his  fair  armour.  And  now,  O 
Menelaos,  had  the  end  of  life  appeared  for  thee  at  Hector's 
hands,  seeing  he  was  stronger  far,  but  that  the  princes  of  the 
Achaians  started  up  and  caught  thee.  And  Atreus'  son  him- 
self, wide-ruling  Agamemnon,  took  him  by  his  right  hand 
and  spake  a  word  and  called  upon  his  name:  "Thou  doest 
madly,  Menelaos  fosterling  of  Zeus ;  yet  is  it  no  time  for  this 
thy  madness.  Draw  back,  though  it  be  with  pain,  nor  think 
for  contention's  sake  to  fight  with  one  better  than  thou,  with 
Hector  Priam's  son,  whom  others  beside  thee  abhor.  Yea, 
this  man  even  Achilles  dreadeth  to  meet  in  battle,  wherein  is 
the  warrior's  glory ;  and  Achilles  is  better  far  than  thou.  Go 
therefore  now  and  sit  amid  the  company  of  thy  fellows ;  against 
him  shall  the  Achaians  put  forth  another  champion.  Fear- 
fess  though  he  be  and  insatiate  of  turmoil,  I  ween  that  he 
shall  be  fain  to  rest  his  knees,  if  he  escape  from  the  fury  of 
war  and  terrible  fray." 

So  spake  the  hero  and  persuaded  his  brother's  heart  with 
just  counsel;  and  he  obeyed.  So  his  squires  thereat  with 
gladness  took  his  armour  from  his  shoulders ;  and  Nestor  stood 
up  and  spake  amid  the  Argives:  "Fie  upon  it,  verily  sore 
lamentation  cometh  on  the  land  of  Achaia.  Verily  old  Peleus 
driver  of  chariots  would  groan  sore,  that  goodly  counsellor 
of  the  Myrmidons  and  orator,  who  erst  questioned  me  in 
his  house,  and  rejoiced  greatly,  inquiring  of  the  lineage  and 
birth  of  all  the  Argives.  If  he  heard  now  of  those  that  all 
were  cowering  before  Hector,  then  would  he  lift  his  hands 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   VII  135 

to  the  immortals,  instantly  praying  that  his  soul  might  depart 
from  his  limbs  down  to  the  house  of  Hades.  Ah  would  to 
father  Zeus  and  Athene  and  Apollo  I  were  young  as  when 
beside  swift-flowing  Keladon  the  Pylians  gathered  together 
to  battle  and  the  Arkadians  that  bear  the  spear,  beneath  the 
walls  of  Pheia,  about  the  streams  of  lardanos.  Then  stood 
up  for  their  champion  Ereuthalion,  a  man  the  peer  of 
gods,  bearing  upon  his  shoulders  the  armour  of  king  Areithoos, 
goodly  Areithoos,  that  by  men  and  fair-girdled  women  was 
surnamed  the  Mace-man,  because  he  fought  not  with  bow 
and  long  spear,  but  with  an  iron  mace  clave  the  battalions. 
Him  Lykurgos  slew  by  guile,  and  not  by  strength,  in  a  narrow 
way,  where  his  mace  of  iron  saved  him  not  from  destruc- 
tion: ere  that,  Lykurgos  came  on  him  unawares  and  pierced 
him  through  the  midst  with  his  dart,  and  he  was  hurled  back- 
ward upon  the  earth.  Then  Lykurgos  despoiled  him  of  his 
arms  that  brazen  Ares  had  given  him;  and  these  himself  he 
bare  thereafter  into  the  mellay  of  war.  But  when  Lykurgos 
grew  old  within  his  halls  he  gave  them  to  Ereuthalion  his 
dear  squire  to  wear.  So  with  his  arms  upon  him  he  chal- 
lenged all  our  best;  but  they  trembled  sore  and  were  afraid, 
and  no  man  took  heart.  But  me  my  hardy  spirit  aroused  to 
meet  him  in  my  confidence;  yet  was  I  youngest  in  years  of 
all.  So  fought  I  with  him  and  Athene  vouchsafed  me  glory. 
Tallest  was  he  and  strongest  of  men  that  I  havt  slain ;  as  one 
of  huge  bulk  he  lay  spread  this  way  and  that.  Would  to  God 
I  were  thus  young  and  my  strength  were  sound ;  then  would 
Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  soon  find  his  combat.  But  of 
those  of  you  that  be  chieftains  of  the  host  of  the  Achaians, 
yet  desireth  no  man  of  good  heart  to  meet  Hector  face  to  face." 
So  the  old  man  upbraided  them,  and  there  stood  up  nine  in 
all.  For  first  arose  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  and  after  him 
rose  Tydeus'  son  stalwart  Diomedes,  and  after  them  the 
Aiantes  clothed  with  impetuous  might,  and  after  them  Idome- 
neus  and  Idomeneus'  brother-in-arms  Meriones,  peer  of 
Enyalios  slayer  of  men,  and  after  them  Eurypylos  Euaimon's 
glorious  son;  and  up  rose  Thoas  Andraimon's  son  and  goodly 
Odysseus.  So  all  these  were  fain  to  fight  with  goodly  Hector. 
And  among  them  spake  again  knightly   Nestor  of  Gerenia: 


136  HOMER 

"Now  cast  ye  the  lot  from  the  first  unto  the  last,  for  him  that 
shall  be  chosen;  for  he  shall  in  truth  profit  the  well-greaved 
Achaians,  yea  and  he  shall  have  profit  of  his  own  soul,  if  he 
escape  from  the  fury  of  war  and  terrible  fray." 

So  said  he,  and  they  marked  each  man  his  lot  and  cast 
them  in  the  helmet  of  Agamemnon  Atreus'  son ;  and  the  hosts 
prayed  and  lifted  up  their  hands  to  the  gods.  And  thus  would 
one  say,  looking  up  to  wide  heaven:  "O  father  Zeus,  vouch- 
safe that  the  lot  fall  upon  Aias  or  Tydeus'  son,  or  else  on  the 
king  of  Mykene  rich  in  gold." 

So  spake  they,  and  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  shook  the 
helmet,  and  there  leapt  forth  the  lot  that  themselves  desired, 
even  the  lot  of  Aias.  The  herald  bare  it  everywhither  through 
the  throng,  shewing  it  from  right  to  left  to  all  the  princes  of 
the  Achaians;  but  they  knew  it  not,  and  every  man  denied 
it.  But  when  he  came,  bearing  it  everywhither  through  the 
throng,  to  him  that  had  marked  it  and  cast  it  in  the  helm,  even 
glorious  Aias,  then  he  held  forth  his  hand,  and  the  herald 
stood  by  him  and  put  it  therein.  And  Aias  saw  and  knew  the 
token  upon  the  lot,  and  rejoiced  in  heart.  He  cast  it  by  his 
foot  upon  the  earth,  and  spake:  "My  friends,  verily  the  lot 
is  mine,  yea  and  myself  am  glad  at  heart,  because  I  deem  that 
I  shall  vanquish  goodly  Hector.  But  come  now,  while  I  clothe 
me  in  my  armour  of  battle,  pray  ye  the  while  to  Kronos'  son 
king  Zeus,  in  silence  to  yourselves,  that  the  Trojans  hear  you 
not — nay  rather,  openly  if  ye  will,  for  we  have  no  fear  of 
any  man  soever.  For  none  by  force  shall  chase  me,  he  will- 
^  ing  me  unwilling,  neither  by  skill;  seeing  I  hope  that  not  so 
skill-less,  either,  was  I  born  in  Salamis  nor  nurtured." 

So  said  he,  and  they  prayed  to  Kronos'  son,  king  Zeus; 
and  thus  would  one  speak,  looking  up  to  wide  heaven:  "O 
father  Zeus  that  rulest  from  Ida,  most  glorious,  most  great, 
vouchsafe  to  Aias  victory  and  the  winning  of  great  glory.  But 
if  thou  so  lovest  Hector  indeed,  and  carest  for  him,  grant 
unto  either  equal  prowess  and  renown." 

So  said  they,  while  Aias  arrayed  him  in  flashing  bronze. 
And  when  he  had  now  clothed  upon  his  flesh  all  his  armour, 
then  marched  he  as  huge  Ares  coming  forth,  when  he  goeth 
to  battle  amid  heroes  whom  Kronos'  son  setteth  to  fight  in 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VII  137 

fury  of  heart-consuming  strife.  So  rose  up  huge  Aias,  bul- 
wark of  the  Achaians,  with  a  smile  on  his  grim  face :  and  went 
with  long  strides  of  his  feet  beneath  him,  shaking  his  far- 
shadowing  spear.  Then  moreover  the  Argives  rejoiced  to  look 
upon  him,  but  sore  trembling  came  upon  the  Trojans,  on  the 
limbs  of  every  man,  and  Hector's  own  heart  beat  within  his 
breast.  But  in  no  wise  could  he  now  flee  nor  shrink  back  into 
the  throng  of  the  host,  seeing  he  had  challenged  him  to  battle. 
And  Aias  came  near  bearing  his  tower-like  shield  of  bronze, 
with  sevenfold  ox-hide,  that  Tychios  had  wrought  him  cun- 
ningly; Tychios  far  best  of  curriers,  that  had  his  home  in 
Hyle,  who  made  him  his  glancing  shield,  of  sevenfold  hides 
of  stalwart  bulls,  and  overlaid  the  seven  with  bronze.  This 
bare  Telamonian  Aias  before  his  breast,  and  stood  near  to 
Hector,  and  spake  to  him  threatening:  "Hector,  now  verily 
shalt  thou  well  know,  man  to  man,  what  manner  of  princes 
the  Danaans  likewise  have  among  them,  even  after  Achilles, 
render  of  men,  the  lion-hearted.  But  he  amid  his  beaked  sea- 
faring ships  lieth  in  sore  wrath  with  Agamemnon  shepherd 
of  the  host ;  yet  are  we  such  as  to  face  thee,  yea  and  many  of 
us.    But  make  thou  beginning  of  war  and  battle." 

And  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  answered  him: 
"Aias  of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  son  of  Telamon,  chieftain  of  the 
host,  tempt  not  thou  me  like  some  puny  boy  or  woman  that 
knoweth  not  deeds  of  battle.  But  I  well  know  wars  and 
slaughterings.  To  right  know  I,  to  left  know  I  the  wielding 
of  my  tough  targe;  therein  I  deem  it  stalwart  soldiership. 
And  I  know  how  to  charge  into  the  mellay  of  fleet  chariots, 
and  how  in  close  battle  to  join  in  furious  Ares'  dance.  How- 
beit,  I  have  no  mind  to  smite  thee,  being  such  an  one  as  thou 
art,  by  spying  thee  unawares;  but  rather  openly,  if  perchance 
I  may  hit  thee." 

He  spake,  and  poised  his  far-shadowing  spear,  and  hurled 
and  smote  Aias'  dread  shield  of  sevenfold  hide  upon  the  utter- 
most bronze,  the  eighth  layer  that  was  thereon.  Through  six 
folds  went  the  stubborn  bronze  cleaving,  but  in  the  seventh 
hide  it  stayed.  Then  heaven-sprung  Aias  hurled  next  his  far- 
shadowing  spear,  and  smote  upon  the  circle  of  the  shield  of 
Priam's  son.      Through  the  bright  shield  passed  the  violent 


138  HOMER 

spear,  and  through  the  curiously  wrought  corslet  pressed  it 
on;  and  straight  forth  beside  the  flank  the  spear  rent  his 
doublet ;  but  he  swerved  aside  and  escaped  black  death.  Then 
both  together  with  their  hands  plucked  forth  their  long  spears 
and  fell  to  like  ravening  lions  or  wild  boars  whose  might  is 
nowise  feeble.  Then  Priam's  son  smote  the  shield's  midst 
with  his  dart,  but  the  bronze  brake  not  through,  for  the  point 
turned  back;  but  Aias  leapt  on  him  and  pierced  his  buckler, 
and  straight  through  went  the  spear  and  staggered  him  in  his 
onset,  and  cleft  its  way  unto  his  neck,  so  that  the  dark  blood 
gushed  up.  Yet  even  then  did  not  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm 
cease  from  fight,  but  yielded  ground  and  with  stout  hand 
seized  a  stone  lying  upon  the  plain,  black  and  rugged  and 
great;  therewith  hurled  he  and  smote  Aias'  dread  shield  of 
sevenfold  ox-hide  in  the  midst  upon  the  boss,  and  the  bronze 
resounded.  Next  Aias  lifted  a  far  greater  stone,  and  swung 
and  hurled  it,  putting  might  immeasurable  therein.  So  smote 
he  the  buckler  and  burst  it  inwards  with  the  rock  like  unto 
a  mill-stone,  and  beat  down  his  knees;  and  he  was  stretched 
upon  his  back,  pressed  into  his  shield;  but  Apollo  straight- 
way raised  him  up.  And  now  had  they  been  smiting  hand 
to  hand  with  swords,  but  that  the  heralds,  messengers  of  gods 
and  men,  came,  one  from  the  Trojans,  one  from  the  mail- 
clad  Achaians,  even  Talthybios  and  Idaios,  both  men  discreet. 
Between  the  two  held  they  their  staves,  and  herald  Idaios 
spake  a  word,  being  skilled  in  wise  counsel:  "Fight  ye  no 
more,  dear  sons,  neither  do  battle;  seeing  Zeus  the  cloud- 
gatherer  loveth  you  both,  and  both  are  men  of  war;  that 
verily  know  we  all.  But  night  already  is  upon  us :  it  is  well 
withal  to  obey  the  best  of  night." 

Then  Telamonian  Aias  answered  and  said  to  him :  "Idaios, 
bid  ye  Hector  to  speak  those  words ;  of  his  own  self  he  chal- 
lenged to  combat  all  our  best.  Let  him  be  first,  and  I  will 
surely  follow  as  he  saith." 

Then  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  said  to  him :  "Aias, 
seeing  God  gave  thee  stature  and  might  and  wisdom,  and 
with  the  spear  thou  art  excellent  above  all  the  Achaians,  let 
us  now  cease  from  combat  and  battle  for  the  day;  but  here- 
after will  we  fight  until  God  judge  between  us,  giving  to  one 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VII  139 

of  us  the  victory.  But  night  already  is  upon  us;  it  is  well 
withal  to  obey  the  hest  of  night;  that  so  thou  mayest  rejoice 
all  the  Achaians  beside  their  ships,  and  chiefly  the  kinsmen 
and  fellows  that  are  thine ;  and  I  throughout  the  great  city  of 
king  Priam  will  rejoice  the  Trojan  men  and  Trojan  dames 
with  trailing  robes,  that  with  prayer  I  ween  will  enter  the 
holy  assemblage.  But  come,  let  us  give  each  the  other  famous 
gifts,  that  men  may  thus  say,  Achaians  alike  and  Trojans: 
'These,  having  fought  for  sake  of  heart-consuming  strife, 
parted  again  reconciled  in  friendship.'  " 

So  said  he,  and  gave  him  his  silver-studded  sword,  with 
scabbard  and  well-cut  baldrick;  and  Aias  gave  his  belt  bright 
with  purple.  So  they  parted  and  one  went  to  the  Achaian 
host,  and  one  betook  him  to  the  throng  of  Trojans.  And 
these  rejoiced  to  behold  him  come  to  them  alive  and  sound, 
escaped  from  the  fury  of  Aias  and  his  hands  unapproach- 
able; and  they  brought  him  to  the  city  saved  beyond  their 
hope.  And  Aias  on  their  side  the  well-greaved  Achaians 
brought  to  noble  Agamemnon,  exulting  in  his  victory. 

So  when  these  were  come  unto  the  huts  of  Atreides,  then 
did  Agamemnon  king  of  men  slay  them  an  ox,  a  male  of  five 
years  old,  for  the  most  mighty  son  of  Kronos.  This  they 
flayed  and  made  ready,  and  divided  it  all,  and  minced  it  cun- 
.ningly,  and  pierced  it  through  with  spits,  and  roasted  it  care- 
fully, and  drew  all  off  again.  Then  as  soon  as  they  had  rest 
from  the  task  and  had  made  ready  the  meal,  they  began  the 
feast,  nor  was  their  soul  aught  stinted  of  the  equal  banquet. 
And  the  hero  son  of  Atreus,  wide-ruling  Agamemnon,  gave 
to  Aias  slices  of  the  chine's  full  length  for  his  honour.  And 
when  they  had  put  from  them  the  desire  of  meat  and  drink, 
then  first  the  old  man  began  to  weave  the  web  of  counsel,  even 
Nestor  whose  rede  of  old  time  was  proved  most  excellent. 
He  of  good  intent  made  harangue  among  them  and  said :  "Son 
of  Atreus  and  ye  other  princes  of  the  Achaians,  seeing  that 
many  flowing-haired  Achaians  are  dead,  and  keen  Ares  hath 
spilt  their  dusky  blood  about  fair-flowing  Skamandros,  and 
their  souls  have  gone  down  to  the  house  of  Hades;  therefore 
it  behoveth  thee  to  make  the  battle  of  the  Achaians  cease  with 
daybreak;  and  we  will  assemble  to  wheel  hither  the  corpses 


140  HOMER 

with  oxen  and  mules ;  so  let  us  burn  them  a  little  way  from  the 
ships,  that  each  man  may  bear  their  bones  home  to  their  chil- 
dren, whene'er  we  return  again  to  our  native  land;  and  let 
us  heap  one  barrow  about  the  pyre,  rearing  it  from  the  plain 
for  all  alike;  and  thereto  build  with  speed  high  towers,  a  bul- 
wark for  our  ships  and  for  ourselves.  In  the  midst  thereof 
let  us  make  gates  well  compact,  that  through  them  may  be  a 
way  for  chariot-driving.  And  without  let  us  dig  a  deep  foss 
hard  by,  to  be  about  it  and  to  hinder  horses  and  footmen,  lest 
the  battle  of  the  lordly  Trojans  be  heavy  on  us  hereafter." 

So  spake  he  and  all  the  chiefs  gave  assent.  But  mean- 
while there  was  in  the  high  town  of  Ilios  an  assembly  of  the 
Trojans,  fierce,  confused,  beside  Priam's  gate.  To  them  dis- 
creet Antenor  began  to  make  harangue:  "Hearken  to  me, 
Trojans  and  Dardanians  and  allies,  that  I  may  tell  you  that 
my  soul  within  my  breast  commandeth  me.  Lo,  go  to  now, 
let  us  give  Helen  of  Argos  and  the  wealth  with  her  for  the 
sons  of  Atreus  to  take  away.  Now  fight  we  in  guilt  against 
the  oaths  of  faith;  therefore  is  there  no  profit  for  us  that  I 
hope  to  see  fulfilled,  miless  we  do  thus." 

So  spake  he  and  sate  him  down ;  and  there  stood  up  among 
them  noble  Alexandros,  lord  of  Helen  beautiful-haired;  he 
made  him  answer  and  spake  winged  words:  "Antenor,  these 
words  from  thee  are  no  longer  to  my  pleasure;  yet  thou  hast 
it  in  thee  to  devise  other  sayings  more  excellent  than  this. 
But  if  indeed  thou  sayest  this  in  earnest,  then  verily  the  gods 
themselves  have  destroyed  thy  wit.  But  I  will  speak  forth 
amid  the  horse-taming  Trojans,  and  declare  outright;  my 
wife  will  I  not  give  back ;  but  the  wealth  I  brought  from  Argos 
to  our  home,  all  that  I  have  a  mind  to  give,  and  add  more  of 
mine  own  substance." 

So  spake  he  and  sate  him  down,  and  there  stood  up  among 
them  Priam  of  the  seed  of  Dardanos,  the  peer  of  gods  in 
counsel ;  he  of  good  intent  made  harangue  to  them,  and  said : 
"Hearken  to  me,  Trojans  and  Dardanians  and  allies,  that  I 
may  tell  you  that  my  soul  within  my  breast  commandeth  me. 
Now  eat  your  supper  throughout  the  city  as  of  old,  and  take 
thought  to  keep  watch,  and  be  wakeful  every  man.  And  at 
dawn  let  Idaios  fare  to  the  hollow  ships  to  tell  to  Atreus'  sons 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  VII  141 

Agamemnon  and  Menelaos  the  saying  of  Alexandros,  for 
whose  sake  strife  is  come  about:  and  likewise  to  ask  them 
this  wise  word,  whether  they  are  minded  to  refrain  from  noisy 
war  till  we  have  burned  our  dead;  afterwards  will  we  fight 
again,  till  heaven  part  us  and  give  one  or  other  victory." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  hearkened  diligently  to  him  and 
obeyed;  then  took  they  their  supper  throughout  the  host 
by  ranks,  and  at  dawn  Idaios  fared  to  the  hollow  ships.  He 
found  the  Danaans  in  assembly,  the  men  of  Ares'  company, 
beside  the  stern  of  Agamemnon's  ship ;  and  so  the  loud-voiced 
herald  stood  in  their  midst  and  said  unto  them:  "Atreides 
and  ye  other  princes  of  the  Achaians,  Priam  and  all  the  noble 
Trojans  bade  me  tell  you — if  perchance  it  might  find  favour 
and  acceptance  with  you — the  saying  of  Alexandros,  for  whose 
sake  strife  hath  come  about.  The  wealth  that  Alexandros 
brought  in  his  hollow  ships  to  Troy — would  he  had  perished 
first ! — all  that  he  hath  a  mind  to  give,  and  to  add  more  thereto 
of  his  substance.  But  the  wedded  wife  of  glorious  Menelaos 
he  saith  he  will  not  give ;  yet  verily  the  Trojans  bid  him  do  it. 
Moreover  they  bade  me  ask  this  thing  of  you ;  whether  ye  are 
minded  to  refrain  from  noisy  war  until  we  have  burned  our 
dead;  afterwards  will  we  fight  again,  till  heaven  part  us  and 
give  one  or  other  victory." 

So  said  he  and  they  all  kept  silence  and  were  still.  But 
at  the  last  spake  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  in  their  midst : 
"Let  no  man  now  accept  Alexandros'  substance,  neither  Helen's 
self;  known  is  it,  even  to  him  that  hath  no  wit  at  all,  how  that 
the  issues  of  destruction  hang  already  over  the  Trojans." 

So  spake  he,  and  all  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  shouted, 
applauding  the  saying  of  horse-taming  Diomedes.  And  then 
lord  Agamemnon  spake  to  Idaios :  "Idaios,  thyself  thou  hear- 
est  the  saying  of  the  Achaians,  how  they  answer  thee;  and 
the  like  seemeth  good  to  me.  But  as  concerning  the  dead, 
I  grudge  you  not  to  burn  them;  for  dead  corpses  is  there  no 
stinting,  when  they  once  are  dead,  of  the  swift  propitiation 
of  fire.  And  for  the  oaths  let  Zeus  be  witness,  the  loud- 
thundering  lord  of  Hera." 

So  saying  he  lifted  up  his  sceptre  in  the  sight  of  all  the 
gods,  and  Idaios  departed  back  to  holy  Ilios.     Now  Trojans 


142  HOMER 

and  Dardanians  sate  in  assembly,  gathered  all  together  to  wait 
till  Idaios  should  come ;  and  he  came  and  stood  in  their  midst 
and  declared  his  message.  Then  they  made  them  ready  very 
swiftly  for  either  task,  some  to  bring  the  dead,  and  some  to 
seek  for  wood.  And  on  their  part  the  Argives  hasted  from 
their  well-decked  ships,  some  to  bring  the  dead  and  some  to 
seek  for  wood. 

Now  the  sun  was  newly  beating  on  the  fields  as  he  climbed 
heaven  from  the  deep  stream  of  gently-flowing  Ocean,  when 
both  sides  met  together.  Then  was  it  a  hard  matter  to  know 
each  man  again;  but  they  washed  them  with  water  clean  .'f 
clotted  gore,  and  with  shedding  of  hot  tears  lifted  them  upon 
the  wains.  But  great  Priam  bade  them  not  wail  aloud ;  so  in 
silence  heaped  they  the  corpses  on  the  pyre,  stricken  at  heart; 
and  when  they  had  burned  them  with  fire  departed  to  holy 
Ilios.  And  in  like  manner  on  their  side  the  well-greaved  Acha- 
ians  heaped  the  corpses  on  the  pyre,  stricken  at  heart,  and  when 
they  had  burned  them  with  fire  departed  to  the  hollow  ships. 

And  when  day  was  not  yet,  but  still  twilight  of  night, 
then  was  the  chosen  folk  of  the  Achaians  gathered  together 
around  the  pyre,  and  made  one  barrow  about  it,  rearing  it 
from  the  plain  for  all  alike;  and  thereto  built  they  a  wall 
and  lofty  towers,  a  bulwark  for  their  ships  and  for  them- 
selves. In  the  midst  thereof  made  they  gates  well-compacted, 
that  through  them  might  be  a  way  for  chariot-driving.  And 
without  they  dug  a  deep  foss  beside  it,  broad  and  great,  and 
planted  a  palisade  therein. 

Thus  toiled  the  flowing-haired  Achaians :  and  the  gods 
sate  by  Zeus,  the  lord  of  lightning,  and  marvelled  at  the 
great  work  of  the  mail-clad  Achaians.  And  Poseidon  shaker 
of  earth  spake  first  to  them:  "O  father  Zeus,  is  there  any 
man  throughout  the  boundless  earth  that  will  any  more  declare 
to  the  immortals  his  mind  and  counsel?  Seest  thou  not  how 
the  flowing-haired  Achaians  have  now  again  built  them  a  wall 
before  their  ships,  and  drawn  a  foss  around  it,  but  gave  not 
excellent  hecatombs  to  the  gods?  Verily  the  fame  thereof 
shall  reach  as  far  as  the  dawn  spreadeth,  and  men  will  forget 
the  wall  that  I  and  Phoebus  Apollo  built  with  travail  for  the 
hero  Laomedon." 


THE    ILIAD—BOOK    VII  143 

And  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  said  to  him,  sore  troubled : 
"Out  on  it,  far-swaying  Shaker  of  Earth,  for  this  thing  thou 
sayest.  Well  might  some  other  god  fear  this  device,  one 
that  were  far  feebler  than  thou  in  the  might  of  his  hands :  but 
thine  shall  be  the  fame  as  far  as  the  dawn  spreadeth.  Go  to 
now,  hereafter  when  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  be  departed 
upon  their  ships  to  their  dear  native  land,  then  burst  thou 
this  wall  asunder  and  scatter  it  all  into  the  sea,  and  cover 
the  great  sea-beach  over  with  sand  again,  that  the  great  wall 
of  the  Achaians  be  brought  thee  to  naught." 

Such  converse  held  these  one  with  the  other,  and  the  sun 
went  down,  and  the  work  of  the  Achaians  was  accomplished; 
and  they  slaughtered  oxen  amid  the  huts,  and  took  supper. 
And  many  ships  from  Lemnos,  bearing  wine,  were  at  hand, 
sent  of  Jason's  son  Euneos,  whom  Hypsipyle  bare  to  Jason 
shepherd  of  the  host.  And  specially  for  Atreus'  sons, 
Agamemnon  and  Menelaos,  Jason's  son  gave  a  freight  of 
wine,  even  a  thousand  measures.  So  the  flowing-haired  Acha- 
ians bought  them  wine  thence,  some  for  bronze  and  some 
for  gleaming  iron,  and  some  with  hides  and  some  with  whole 
kine,  and  some  with  captives;  and  they  set  a  rich  feast  before 
them.  Then  all  night  long  feasted  the  flowing-haired  Achaians, 
and  in  the  city  the  Trojans  and  allies ;  and  all  night  long  Zeus 
the  lord  of  counsel  devised  the  mill  with  terrible  thunderings. 
Then  pale  fear  gat  hold  upon  them,  and  they  spilt  wine  from 
their  cups  upon  the  earth,  neither  durst  any  drink  till  he  had 
made  libation  to  most  mighty  Kronion.  Then  laid  they  them 
to  rest  and  took  the  boon  of  sleep. 


144  HOMER 


BOOK  VIII 

How  Zeus  bethought  him  of  his  promise  to  avenge  Achilles' 
wrong  on  Agamemnon:  and  therefore  bade  the  gods  refrain  from 
war,  and  gave  victory  to  the  Trojans. 

Now  Dawn  the  saffron-robed  was  spreading  over  all  the 
earth,  and  Zeus  whose  joy  is  in  the  thunder  let  call  an  assem- 
bly of  the  gods  upon  the  topmost  peak  of  many-ridged  Olym- 
pus, and  himself  made  harangue  to  them  and  all  the  gods 
gave  ear:  "Hearken  to  me,  all  gods  and  all  ye  goddesses, 
that  I  may  tell  you  that  my  heart  within  my  breast  com- 
mandeth  me.  One  thing  let  none  essay,  be  it  goddess  or  be 
it  god,  to  wit,  to  thwart  my  saying ;  approve  ye  it  all  together, 
that  with  all  speed  I  may  accomplish  these  things.  Whomso- 
ever I  shall  perceive  minded  to  go,  apart  from  the  gods,  to 
succour  Trojans  or  Danaans,  chastened  in  no  seemly  wise 
shall  he  return  to  Olympus,  or  I  will  take  and  cast  him  into 
misty  Tartaros,  right  far  away,  where  is  the  deepest  gulf 
beneath  the  earth;  there  are  the  gate  of  iron  and  threshold 
of  bronze,  as  far  beneath  hades  as  heaven  is  high  above  the 
earth :  then  shall  he  know  how  far  I  am  mightiest  of  all  gods. 
Go  to  now,  ye  gods,  make  trial  that  ye  all  may  know.  Fasten 
ye  a  rope  of  gold  from  heaven,  and  all  ye  gods  lay  hold  thereof 
and  all  goddesses ;  yet  could  ye  not  drag  from  heaven  to  earth 
Zeus,  counsellor  supreme,  not  though  ye  toiled  sore.  But  once 
I  likewise  were  minded  to  draw  with  all  my  heart,  then  should 
I  draw  you  up  with  very  earth  and  sea  withal.  Thereafter 
would  I  bind  the  rope  about  a  pinnacle  of  Olympus,  and  so 
should  all  those  things  be  hung  in  air.  By  so  much  am  I 
beyond  gods  and  beyond  men." 

So  said  he,  and  they  all  kept  silence  and  were  still,  mar- 
velling at  his  saying;  for  he  spake  very  masterfully.  But  at 
the  last  there  spake  to  them  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene: 
"O  our  father  Kronides,  supreme  of  lords,  well  we  know,  even 
we,  that  thy  might  is  unyielding ;  yet  still  have  we  pity  for  the 
Danaan  spearmen,  that  now  shall  perish  and  fulfil  a  grievous 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VIII  145 

fate.  Yet  will  we  refrain  from  battle  as  thou  biddest  ns, 
but  counsel  will  we  offer  to  the  Argives  for  their  profit,  that 
they  perish  not  all  at  thy  wrath." 

Then  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  smiled  at  her  and  said:  "Be 
of  good  comfort,  dear  child,  Trito-bom ;  I  speak  not  at  all  of 
earnest  purpose,  but  I  am  minded  to  be  kindly  to  thee." 

So  saying  he  let  harness  to  his  chariot  his  bronze-shod 
horses,  fleet  of  foot,  with  flowing  manes  of  gold;  and  him- 
self clad  him  with  gold  upon  his  flesh,  and  grasped  the  whip 
of  gold,  well-wrought,  and  mounted  upon  his  car,  and  lashed 
the  horses  to  start  them;  they  nothing  loth  sped  on  between 
earth  and  starry  heaven.  So  fared  he  to  many-fountained 
Ida,  mother  of  wild  beasts,  even  unto  Gargaros,  where  is  his 
demesne  and  fragrant  altar.  There  did  the  father  of  men 
and  gods  stay  his  horses,  and  unloose  them  from  the  car,  and 
cast  thick  mist  about  them ;  and  himself  sate  on  the  mountain- 
tops  rejoicing  in  his  glory,  to  behold  the  city  of  the  Trojans 
and  ships  of  the  Achaians. 

Now  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  took  meat  hastily  among 
the  huts  and  thereafter  arrayed  themselves.  Likewise  the  Tro- 
jans on  their  side  armed  them  throughout  the  town — a  smaller 
host,  yet  for  all  that  were  they  eager  to  fight  in  battle,  of 
forceful  need,  for  their  children's  sake  and  their  wives'.  And 
the  gates  were  opened  wide  and  the  host  issued  forth,  foot- 
men and  horsemen ;  and  mighty  din  arose. 

So  when  they  were  met  together  and  come  unto  one  spot, 
then  clashed  they  targe  and  spear  and  fury  of  bronze-clad 
warrior;  the  bossed  shields  pressed  each  on  each,  and  mighty 
din  arose.  Then  were  heard  the  voice  of  groahing  and  the 
voice  of  triumph  together  of  the  slayers  and  the  slain,  and  the 
earth  streamed  with  blood. 

Now  while  it  yet  was  morn  and  the  divine  day  waxed,  so 
long  from  either  side  lighted  the  darts  amain  and  the  people 
fell.  But  when  the  sun  bestrode  mid-heaven,  then  did  the 
Father  balance  his  golden  scales,  and  put  therein  two  fates 
of  death  that  layeth  men  at  their  length,  one  for  horse-tam- 
ing Trojans,  one  for  mail-clad  Achaians;  and  he  took  the 
scale-yard  by  the  midst  and  lifted  it,  and  the  Achaians'  day 
Qf  destiny  sank  down.     So  lay  the  Achaians'   fates  on  the 


146  HOMER 

bounteous  earth,  and  the  Trojans'  fates  were  lifted  up  towards 
wide  heaven.  And  the  god  thundered  aloud  from  Ida,  and 
sent  his  blazing  flash  amid  the  host  of  the  Achaians;  and 
they  saw  and  were  astonished,  and  pale  fear  gat  hold  upon  all. 

Then  had  Idomeneus  no  heart  to  stand,  neither  Agamem- 
non, neither  stood  the  twain  Aiantes,  men  of  Ares'  company. 
Only  Nestor  of  Gerenia  stood  his  ground,  he  the  Warden  of 
the  Achaians;  neither  he  of  purpose,  but  his  horse  was  for- 
done, which  noble  Alexandros,  beauteous-haired  Helen's  lord, 
had  smitten  with  an  arrow  upon  the  top  of  the  crest  where 
the  foremost  hairs  of  horses  grow  upon  the  skull;  and  there 
is  the  most  deadly  spot.  So  the  horse  leapt  up  in  anguish  and 
the  arrow  sank  into  his  brain,  and  he  brought  confusion  on  the 
steeds  as  he  writhed  upon  the  dart.  While  the  old  man  leapt 
forth  and  with  his  sword  began  to  hew  the  traces,  came 
Hector's  fleet  horses  through  the  tumult,  bearing  a  bold 
charioteer,  even  Hector.  And  now  had  the  old  man  lost  his 
life,  but  that  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  was  swift  to  mark. 
Terribly  shouted  he,  summoning  Odysseus:  "Heaven-born 
son  of  Laertes,  Odysseus  of  many  wiles,  whither  fleest  thou 
with  thy  back  turned,  like  a  coward  in  the  throng?  Beware 
lest  as  thou  fleest  one  plant  a  spear  between  thy  shoulders. 
Nay,  stand  thy  ground,  till  we  thrust  back  from  the  old  man 
his  furious  foe." 

So  spake  he,  but  much-enduring  noble  Odysseus  heard 
him  not,  but  hastened  by  to  the  hollow  ships  of  the  Achaians. 
Yet  Tydeides,  though  but  one,  mingled  amid  the  fighters  in 
the  forefront,  and  took  his  stand  before  the  steeds  of  the 
old  man,  Neleus'  son,  and  spake  to  him  winged  words,  and 
said:  "Old  man,  of  a  truth  young  warriors  beset  thee  hard; 
and  thy  force  is  abated,  and  old  age  is  sore  upon  thee,  and 
thy  squire  is  but  a  weakling,  and  thy  steeds  are  slow.  Come 
then,  mount  upon  my  car,  that  thou  mayest  see  of  what  sort 
are  the  steeds  of  Tros,  well  skilled  for  following  or  fleeing 
hither  or  thither  very  fleetly  across  the  plain  even  those  that 
erst  I  took  from  Aineias  inspirer  of  fear.  Thine  let  our 
squires  tend,  and  these  let  us  guide  straight  against  the  horse- 
taming  Trojans,  that  even  Hector  may  know  whether  my  spear 
also  rageth  in  my  hands." 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    VIII  147 

So  said  he,  and  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  disregarded 
not.  Then  the  two  squires  tended  Nestor's  horses,  even 
Sthenelos  the  vaHant  and  kindly  Eurymedon :  and  the  other 
twain  both  mounted  upon  Diomedes'  car.  And  Nestor  took 
into  his  hands  the  shining  reins,  and  lashed  the  horses;  and 
soon  they  drew  nigh  Hector.  Then  Tydeus'  son  hurled  at 
him  as  he  charged  straight  upon  them:  him  missed  he,  but 
his  squire  that  drave  his  chariot,  Eniopeus,  high-hearted  The- 
baios'  son,  even  him  as  he  held  the  reins,  he  smote  upon  the 
breast  beside  the  nipple.  So  he  fell  from  out  the  car, 
and  his  fleet-footed  horses  sw^erved  aside;  and  there  his  soul 
and  spirit  were  unstrung.  Then  sore  grief  encompassed 
Hector's  soul  for  sake  of  his  charioteer.  Yet  left  he  him 
there  lying,  though  he  sorrowed  for  his  comrade,  and  drave 
in  quest  of  a  bold  charioteer;  and  his  horses  lacked  not  only 
a  master,  for  anon  he  found  Iphitos'  son,  bold  Archeptolemos, 
and  him  he  made  mount  behind  his  fleet  horses,  and  gave  the 
reins  into  his  hands. 

Then  had  destruction  come  and  deeds  beyond  remedy 
been  wrought,  and  so  had  they  been  penned  in  Ilios  like 
lambs,  had  not  the  father  of  gods  and  men  been  swift  to 
mark.  So  he  thundered  terribly  and  darted  his  white  lightning 
and  hurled  it  before  Diomedes'  steeds  to  earth;  and  there 
arose  a  terrible  flame  of  sulphur  burning,  and  the  two  horses 
were  affrighted  and  cowered  beneath  the  car.  And  the  shin- 
ing reins  dropped  from  Nestor's  hands,  and  he  was  afraid 
at  heart  and  spake  to  Diomedes :  "Come  now  Tydeides,  turn 
back  thy  whole-hooved  horses  to  flight:  seest  thou  not  that 
victory  from  Zeus  attendeth  not  on  thee?  Now  doth  Kronos' 
son  vouchsafe  glory  to  this  Hector,  for  the  day;  hereafter 
shall  he  grant  it  us  likewise,  if  he  will.  A  man  may  not  at 
all  ward  oflf  the  will  of  Zeus,  not  though  one  be  very  valiant ; 
he  verily  is  mightier  far." 

Then  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  answered  him:  "Yea 
verily,  old  man,  all  this  thou  sayest  is  according  unto  right. 
But  this  is  the  sore  grief  that  entereth  my  heart  and  soul ; 
Hector  some  day  shall  say  as  he  maketh  harangue  amid  the 
Trojans:     Tydeides  betook  him  to  the  ships  in  flight  before 


148  HOMER 

my  face.'  So  shall  he  boast — in  that  day  let  the  wide  earth 
yawn  for  me." 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  him:  "Ah 
me,  thou  son  of  wise  Tydeus,  that  thou  shouldest  speak  on 
this  wise!  Even  though  Hector  call  thee  a  base  man  and 
coward,  yet  will  not  the  Trojans  hearken  to  him  nor  the 
Dardanians,  neither  the  wives  of  the  great-hearted  men  of 
Troy,  bearers  of  the  shield,  the  wives  whose  lusty  bedfellows 
thou  hast  laid  low  in  the  dust." 

So  spake  he  and  turned  the  whole-hooved  horses  to  flight, 
back  through  the  tumult;  and  the  Trojans  and  Hector  vyith 
wondrous  uproar  poured  upon  them  their  dolorous  darts.  And 
over  him  shouted  loudly  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm: 
"Tydeides,  the  fleet-horsed  Danaans  were  wont  to  honour  thee 
with  the  highest  place,  and  meats,  and  cups  brimful,  but  now 
will  they  disdain  thee;  thou  art  after  all  no  better  than  a 
woman.  Begone,  poor  puppet ;  not  for  my  flinching  shalt  thou 
climb  on  our  towers,  neither  carry  our  wives  away  upon  thy 
ships;  ere  that  will  I  deal  thee  thy  fate." 

So  said  he,  and  Tydeides  was  of  divided  mind,  whether 
to  wheel  his  horses  and  fight  him  face  to  face.  Thrice  doubted 
he  in  heart  and  soul,  and  thrice  from  Ida's  mountains 
thundered  Zeus  the  lord  of  counsel,  and  gave  to  the  Tro- 
jans a  sign,  the  turning  of  the  course  of  battle.  And  Hector 
with  loud  shout  called  to  the  Trojans :  "Trojans  and  Lykians 
and  Dardanians  that  love  close  fight,  be  men,  my  friends,  and 
bethink  you  of  impetuous  valour.  I  perceive  that  of  good 
will  Kronion  vouchsafeth  me  victory  and  great  glory,  and  to 
the  Danaans  destruction.  Fools,  that  devised  these  walls  weak 
and  of  none  account;  they  shall  not  withhold  our  fury,  and 
lightly  shall  our  steeds  overleap  the  delved  foss.  But  when  I 
be  once  come  amid  the  hollow  ships,  then  be  thought  taken  of 
consuming  fire,  that  with  fire  I  may  bum  the  ships  and  slay 
the  men,  even  the  Argives  amid  their  ships,  in  confusion 
beneath  the  smoke." 

So  spake  he  and  shouted  to  his  steeds,  and  said :  "Xanthos, 
and  thou  Podargos,  and  Aithon  and  goodly  Lampos,  now 
pay  me  back  your  tending,  even  the  abundance  that  Androm- 
ache,   great-hearted    Eetion's    daughter,    set    before   you    of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VIII  149 

honey-hearted  wheat,  and  mingled  wine  to  drink  at  the  heart's 
bidding,  sooner  than  for  me,  that  verily  avow  me  to  be  her 
lusty  spouse.  Pursue  ye  now  and  haste,  that  we  may  seize 
Nestor's  shield  the  fame  whereof  now  reacheth  unto  heaven, 
how  that  it  is  of  gold  throughout,  armrods  and  all;  and  may 
seize  moreover  from  horse-taming  Diomedes'  shoulders  his 
richly  dight  breastplate  that  Hephaistos  wrought  cunningly. 
Could  we  but  take  these,  then  might  I  hope  this  very  night  to 
make  the  Achaians  to  embark  on  their  fleet  ships." 

So  spake  he  boastfully,  and  queen  Hera  had  indignation, 
and  stirred  her  upon  her  throne  and  made  high  Olympus 
quake,  and  answered  and  said  to  the  great  god  Poseidon: 
"Out  on  it,  far-swaying  Shaker  of  Earth;  not  even  thine 
heart  within  thy  breast  hath  pity  on  the  Danaans  perishing. 
Yet  bring  they  to  thee  in  Helike  and  Aigai  offerings  many 
and  gracious :  wish  thou  them  victory.  Did  we  but  will,  we 
that  are  confederate  with  the  Danaans,  to  drive  the  Trojans 
back  and  withhold  far-seeing  Zeus,  then  would  he  vex  him- 
self that  he  should  sit  there  alone  in  Ida." 

Then  was  the  lord  the  Shaker  of  Earth  sore  troubled  and 
made  answer:  "Hera  headstrong  in  speech,  what  is  this 
thing  thou  sayest?  I  am  not  he  that  would  fain  see  us  all  at 
strife  with  Zeus  Kronion,  for  he  verily  is  mightier  far." 

Thus  spake  they  to  each  other ;  and  now  was  all  the  space 
that  from  the  ships  the  moat  enclosed,  even  unto  the  wall, 
filled  full  of  horses  together  and  shield-bearing  warriors  pent : 
so  pent  them  Hector  Priam's  son,  peer  of  fleet  Ares,  now  that 
Zeus  vouchsafed  him  glory.  And  now  had  he  burned  the 
trim  ships  with  blazing  fire,  but  that  queen  Hera  put  it  in 
Agamemnon's  heart  himself  to  bestir  him  and  swiftly  arouse 
the  Achaians.  So  he  went  his  way  along  the  huts  and  ships 
of  the  Achaians,  holding  a  great  cloak  of  purple  in  his  stalwart 
hand,  and  stood  by  Odysseus'  black  ship  of  mighty  burden, 
that  was  in  the  midst,  so  that  a  voice  could  be  heard  to  either 
end,  whether  to  the  huts  of  Aias  son  of  Telamon,  or  of 
Achilles ;  for  these  had  drawn  their  trim  ships  up  at  the  utter- 
most ends,  trusting  to  their  valour  and  to  the  might  of  their 
hands.  Then  shouted  he  in  a  piercing  voice,  and  called  to 
the  Danaans  aloud:    "Fie  upon  you,  Argives,  ye  sorry  things 


150  HOMER 

of  shame,  so  brave  in  semblance !  Whither  are  gone  our  boast- 
ings when  we  said  that  we  were  bravest,  the  boasts  ye  uttered 
vaingloriously  when  in  Lemnos,  as  ye  ate  your  fill  of  flesh 
of  tall-horned  oxen  and  drank  goblets  crowned  with  wine,  and 
said  that  every  man  should  stand  in  war  to  face  fivescore  yea 
tenscore  Trojans?  yet  now  can  we  not  match  one,  even  this 
Hector  that  anon  will  burn  our  ships  with  flame  of  fire.  O 
father  Zeus,  didst  ever  thou  blind  with  such  a  blindness  any 
mighty  king,  and  rob  him  of  great  glory?  Yet  I  ween  that 
never  in  my  benched  ship  passed  I  by  a  fair  altar  of  thine  on 
my  mad  way  thither,  but  upon  all  I  burnt  fat  and  thighs  of 
oxen,  being  eager  to  lay  waste  well-walled  Troy.  Nay,  Zeus, 
this  hope  fulfil  thou  me;  suffer  that  we  ourselves  at  least  flee 
and  escape,  neither  suffer  that  the  Achaians  be  thus  vanquished 
of  the  Trojans." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  Father  had  pity  on  him  as  he  wept, 
and  vouchsafed  him  that  his  folk  should  be  saved  and  perish 
not.  Forthwith  sent  he  an  eagle — surest  sign  among  winged 
fowl — holding  in  his  claws  a  fawn,  the  young  of  a  fleet  hind ; 
beside  the  beautiful  altar  of  Zeus  he  let  fall  the  fawn,  where 
the  Achaians  did  sacrifice  unto  Zeus  lord  of  all  oracles.  So 
when  they  saw  that  the  bird  was  come  from  Zeus,  they  sprang 
the  more  upon  the  Trojans  and  bethought  them  of  the  joy  of 
battle. 

Now  could  no  man  of  the  Danaans,  for  all  they  were  very 
many,  boast  that  he  before  Tydeus'  son  had  guided  his  fleet 
horses  forth,  and  driven  them  across  the  trench  and  fought 
man  to  man;  first  by  far  was  Tydeides  to  slay  a  warrior  of 
the  Trojans  in  full  array,  even  Agelaos  son  of  Phradmon. 
Now  he  had  turned  his  steeds  to  flee;  but  as  he  wheeled  the 
other  plunged  the  spear  into  his  back  between  his  shoulders, 
and  drave  it  through  his  breast.  So  fell  he  from  his  chariot, 
and  his  armour  clanged  upon  him. 

And  after  him  came  Atreus'  sons,  even  Agamemnon  and 
Menelaos,  and  after  them  the  Aiantes  clothed  upon  with 
impetuous  valour,  and  after  them  Idomeneus  and  Idomeneus' 
brother  in  arms  Meriones,  peer  of  Enyalios  slayer  of  men,  and 
after  them  Eurypylos,  Euaimon's  glorious  son.  And  ninth 
came  Teukros,  stretching  his  back-bent  low,  and  took  his  stand 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VIII  151 

beneath  the  shield  of  Aias  son  of  Telamon.  And  so  Aias 
would  steathily  withdraw  the  shield,  and  Teukros  would  spy 
his  chance;  and  when  he  had  shot  and  smitten  one  in  the 
throng,  then  fell  such  an  one  and  gave  up  the  ghost,  and 
Teukros  would  return,  and  as  a  child  beneath  his  mother,  so 
gat  he  him  to  Aias ;  who  hid  him  with  the  shining  shield. 

Now  who  first  of  the  Trojans  was  slain  of  noble  Teukros? 
Orsilochos  first  and  Ormenos  and  Ophelestes  and  Daitor  and 
Chromios  and  godlike  Lykophontes  and  Amopaon  Polyai- 
mon's  son  and  Melanippos;  all  these  in  turn  laid  he  upon 
the  bounteous  earth.  And  Agamemnon  king  of  men  rejoiced 
to  behold  him  making  havoc  with  his  stalwart  bow  of  the 
battalions  of  the  Trojans,  and  he  came  and  stood  by  his  side 
and  spake  to  him,  saying:  "Teukros,  dear  heart,  thou  son  of 
Telamon,  prince  of  the  host,  shoot  on  in  this  wise,  if  per- 
chance thou  mayest  be  found  the  salvation  of  the  Danaans 
and  glory  of  thy  father  Telamon;  who  nurtured  thee  when 
thou  wast  little,  and  reared  thee,  though  a  bastard,  in  his 
house;  exalt  thou  him  to  honour,  though  he  be  afar.  More- 
over I  will  say  to  thee  that  which  shall  indeed  be  fulfilled.  If 
segis-bearing  Zeus  and  Athene  vouchsafe  me  to  lay  waste  the 
stablished  city  of  Ilios,  in  thine  hand  first,  after  myself,  will 
I  bestow  the  meed  of  honour,  be  it  a  tripod  or  two  steeds  with 
their  chariot,  or  a  woman  that  shall  go  up  into  thy  bed." 

And  noble  Teukros  made  answer  and  said  to  him:  "Most 
noble  son  of  Atreus,  why  urgest  thou  me  that  myself  am 
eager?  Verily  with  such  strength  as  is  in  me  forbear  I  not, 
but  ever  since  we  drave  them  towards  Ilios  I  watch  with  my 
bow  to  slay  the  foemen.  Eight  long-barbed  arrows  have  I 
now  sped,  and  all  are  buried  in  the  flesh  of  young  men  swift 
in  battle;  only  this  mad  dog  can  I  not  smite." 

He  said,  and  shot  another  arrow  from  the  string  right 
against  Hector;  and  his  heart  was  fain  to  smite  him.  Yet 
him  he  missed,  but  noble  Gorgythion,  Priam's  good  son,  he 
smote  with  an  arrow  in  the  breast,  him  born  of  a  mother 
wedded  from  Aisyme,  even  fair  Kastianeira,  of  favour  Hke 
unto  the  gods.  Even  as  in  a  garden  a  poppy  droopeth  its 
head  aside,  being  heavy  with  fruit  and  the  showers  of  spring; 
so  bowed  he  aside  his  head  laden  with  his  helm. 


152  HOMER 

And  Teukros  shot  another  arrow  from  the  string,  right 
against  Hector,  and  his  heart  was  fain  to  smite  him.  Yet 
missed  he  once  again,  for  Apollo  turned  the  dart  away;  but 
Archeptolemos,  Hector's  bold  charioteer,  he  smote  on  the 
breast  beside  the  nipple  as  he  hasted  into  battle:  so  he  fell 
from  his  car  and  his  fleet-footed  horses  swerved  aside;  and 
there  his  soul  and  spirit  were  unstrung.  Then  sore  grief 
encompassed  Hector's  soul  for  his  charioteer's  sake;  yet  left 
he  him,  though  he  sorrowed  for  his  comrade,  and  bade  Kebri- 
ones  his  own  brother,  being  hard  by,  take  the  chariot  reins; 
and  he  heard  and  disregarded  not.  And  himself  he  leapt 
to  earth  from  the  resplendent  car,  with  a  terrible  shout;  and 
in  his  hand  he  caught  a  stone,  and  made  right  at  Teukros, 
and  his  heart  bade  him  smite  him.  Now  Teukros  had 
plucked  forth  from  his  quiver  a  keen  arrow,  and  laid  it  on 
the  string;  but  even  as  he  drew  it  back.  Hector  of  the  glancing 
helm  smote  him  with  the  jagged  stone,  as  he  aimed  eagerly 
against  him,  even  beside  his  shoulder,  where  the  collar-bone 
fenceth  off  neck  and  breast,  and  where  is  the  most  deadly 
spot;  and  he  brake  the  bowstring,  and  his  hand  from  the 
wrist  grew  numb,  and  he  stayed  fallen  upon  his  knee,  and  his 
bow  dropped  from  his  hand.  But  Aias  disregarded  not  his 
brother's  fall,  but  ran  and  strode  across  him  and  hid  him  with 
his  shield.  Then  two  trusty  comrades  bent  down  to  him, 
even  Mekisteus  son  of  Echios  and  goodly  Alastor,  and  bare 
him,  groaning  sorely,  to  the  hollow  ships.  And  once  again 
the  Olympian  aroused  the  spirit  of  the  Trojans.  So  they 
drove  the  Achaians  straight  toward  the  deep  foss,  and  amid 
the  foremost  went  Hector  exulting  in  his  strength.  And  even 
as  when  a  hound  behind  wild  boar  or  lion,  with  swift  feet 
pursuing  snatcheth  at  him,  at  flank  or  buttock,  and  watcheth 
for  him  as  he  wheeleth,  so  Hector  pressed  hard  on  the  flow- 
ing-haired Achaians,  slaying  ever  the  hindmost,  and  they 
fled  on.  But  when  they  were  passed  in  flight  through  palisade 
and  foss,  and  many  were  fallen  beneath  the  Trojan's  hands, 
then  halted  they  and  tarried  beside  the  ships,  calling  one  upon 
another,  and  lifting  up  their  hands  to  all  the  gods  prayed  each 
one  instantly.    But  Hector  wheeled  round  his  beauteous-maned 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VIII  153 

steeds  this  way  and  that,  and  his  eyes  were  as  the  eyes  of 
Gorgon  or  Ares  bane  of  mortals. 

Now  at  the  sight  of  them  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera 
had  compassion,  and  anon  spake  winged  words  to  Athene: 
"Out  on  it,  thou  child  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  shall  not  we 
twain  any  more  take  thought  for  the  Danaans  that  perish,  if 
only  for  this  last  time?  Now  will  they  fill  up  the  measure 
of  evil  destiny  and  perish  by  one  man's  onslaught ;  seeing  that 
he  is  furious  now  beyond  endurance,  this  Hector  son  of  Priam, 
and  verily  hath  wrought  many  a  deed  of  ill," 

And  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  made  answer  to  her, 
"Yea  in  good  sooth,  may  this  fellow  yield  up  strength  and 
life,  and  perish  at  the  Argives'  hands  in  his  native  land;  only 
mine  own  sire  is  furious,  with  no  good  intent,  headstrong, 
ever  sinful,  the  foiler  of  my  purposes.  Neither  remembereth 
he  at  all  those  many  times  and  oft  that  I  saved  his  son  for- 
done with  Eurystheus'  tasks.  For  he  would  make  lament 
toward  heaven,  and  me  would  Zeus  speed  forth  from  heaven  to 
succour  him.  Had  I  but  known  all  this  in  my  prudent  heart, 
what  time  Eurystheus  sent  him  forth  to  the  house  of  Hades 
the  Warder  of  the  Gate,  to  bring  from  Erebos  the  hound 
of  loathed  Hades,  then  had  he  not  escaped  the  sheer  stream 
of  the  water  of  Styx,  But  now  Zeus  hateth  me,  and  ful- 
filled the  purposes  of  Thetis,  that  kissed  his  knees  and  with 
her  hand  touched  his  beard,  beseeching  him  to  do  honour  to 
Achilles  waster  of  cities.  Verily  the  day  shall  come  when 
he  shall  call  me  again  his  bright-eyed  darling.  But  now  make 
thou  ready  our  whole-hooved  horses,  while  I  enter  in  to  the 
palace  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus  and  gird  me  in  my  armour  for 
battle,  that  I  may  see  if  Priam's  son.  Hector  of  the  glancing 
helm,  shall  be  glad  at  the  appearing  of  us  twain  amid  the 
highways  of  the  battle.  Surely  shall  many  a  Trojan  likewise 
glut  dogs  and  birds  with  fat  and  flesh,  fallen  dead  at  the 
ships  of  the  Achaians." 

So  said  she,  and  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  disre- 
garded not.  So  Hera,  the  goddess  queen,  daughter  of  great 
Kronos,  went  her  way  and  harnessed  the  golden-frontleted 
steeds ;  and  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  cast  down 
at  her  father's  threshold  her  woven  vesture  many-coloured, 


154  HOMER 

that  herself  had  wrought  and  her  hands  had  fashioned;  and 
put  on  her  the  tunic  of  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer,  and  arrayed 
her  in  her  armour  for  dolorous  battle.  Upon  the  flaming 
chariot  set  she  her  foot,  and  grasped  her  heavy  spear  great 
and  stout,  wherewith  she  vanquisheth  the  ranks  of  men,  even 
of  heroes  with  whom  she  of  the  awful  sire  is  wroth.  Then 
Hera  swiftly  smote  the  horses  with  the  lash;  self-moving 
groaned  upon  their  hinges  the  gates  of  heaven  whereof  the 
Hours  are  warders,  to  whom  is  committed  great  heaven  and 
Olympus,  whether  to  throw  open  the  thick  cloud  or  set  it  to. 
There  through  the  gates  guided  they  their  horses  patient  of 
the  lash. 

But  when  father  Zeus  beheld  from  Ida,  he  was  sore 
wroth,  and  sped  Iris  golden-winged  to  bear  a  message:  "Go 
thy  way,  fleet  Iris,  turn  them  back,  neither  suffer  them  to 
face  me;  for  in  no  happy  wise  shall  we  join  in  combat.  For 
thus  will  I  declare,  and  even  so  shall  the  fulfilment  be;  I 
will  maim  their  fleet  horses  in  the  chariot,  and  them  will  I 
hurl  out  from  the  car,  and  will  break  in  pieces  the  chariot; 
neither  within  the  courses  of  ten  years  shall  they  heal  them 
of  the  wounds  the  thunderbolt  shall  tear;  that  the  bright- 
eyed  one  may  know  the  end  when  she  striveth  against  her 
father.  But  with  Hera  have  I  not  so  great  indignation  nor 
wrath :  seeing  it  ever  is  her  wont  to  thwart  me,  whate'er  I  have 
decreed." 

So  said  he,  and  whirlwind-footed  Iris  arose  to  bear  the 
message,  and  departed  from  the  mountains  of  Ida  unto  high 
Olympus.  And  even  at  the  entrance  of  the  gates  of  Olympus 
many-folded  she  met  them  and  stayed  them,  and  told  them 
the  saying  of  Zeus:  "Whither  hasten  ye?  Why  are  your 
hearts  furious  within  your  breasts?  Kronides  forbiddeth 
you  to  give  the  Argives  succour.  For  thus  the  son  of 
Kronos  threateneth,  even  as  he  will  fulfil;  to  wit,  to  maim 
your  fleet  horses  in  the  chariot,  and  you  will  he  hurl  out 
from  the  car,  and  break  the  chariot  in  pieces;  neither  within 
the  courses  of  ten  years  shall  ye  heal  you  of  the  wounds  that 
the  thunderbolt  shall  tear;  that  thou,  bright-eyed  goddess, 
mayst  know  the  end  when  thou  strivest  against  thy  father. 
But  with  Hera  hath  he  not  so  great  indignation  nor  wrath; 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   VIII  155 

seeing  it  ever  is  her  wont  to  thwart  him,  whate.'er  he  have 
decreed.  But  most  fell  art  thou,  reckless  vixen!  if  thou 
indeed  wilt  dare  to  lift  thy  huge  spear  against  the  face  of 
Zeus." 

So  said  fleet-footed  Iris,  and  departed;  but  Hera  spake 
to  Athene  and  said:  "Out  on  it,  thou  child  of  aegis-bearing 
Zeus,  I  verily  would  no  more  have  us  war  against  Zeus  for 
mortals'  sake.  Of  them  let  one  man  perish  and  another 
live,  even  as  the  lot  falleth;  and  for  him,  let  him  take  coun- 
sel for  himself  in  his  heart,  and  give  judgment  for  Trojans 
and  for  Danaans,  as  is  meet." 

So  saying  she  turned  back  her  whole-hooved  horses.  Then 
the  Hours  unyoked  them  their  beauteous-maned  horses,  and 
tethered  them  to  their  ambrosial  mangers,  and  leant  the 
chariots  against  the  shining  faces  of  the  gateway;  and  the 
goddesses  sate  them  upon  their  golden  thrones  amid  the 
throng  of  all  the  gods,  and  were  grieved  at  heart. 

And  father  Zeus  drave  from  Ida  his  fair-wheeled  chariot 
and  horses  unto  Olympus,  and  came  unto  the  session  of  the 
gods.  For  him  also  the  noble  Shaker  of  Earth  unyoked  the 
steeds,  and  set  the  car  upon  the  stand,  and  spread  a  cloth 
thereover;  and  far-seeing  Zeus  himself  sate  upon  his  golden 
throne,  and  beneath  his  feet  great  Olympus  quaked.  Only 
Athene  and  Hera  sate  apart  from  Zeus,  and  spake  no  word 
to  him  neither  questioned  him.  But  he  was  ware  thereof  in 
his  heart,  and  said,  "Why  are  ye  thus  vexed,  Athene  and  Hera? 
Surely  ye  are  not  wearied  of  making  havoc  in  glorious  bat- 
tle of  the  Trojans,  for  whom  ye  cherish  bitter  hate!  Howso- 
ever, seeing  that  my  might  is  so  great  and  my  hands  invincible, 
all  the  gods  that  are  in  Olympus  could  not  turn  me :  and  for 
you  twain,  trembling  erst  gat  hold  upon  your  bright  limbs  ere 
that  ye  beheld  war  and  war's  fell  deeds.  For  thus  will  I 
declare,  and  even  so  had  the  fulfilment  been — never  had  ye, 
once  smitten  with  the  thunderbolt,  fared  on  your  chariots 
back  unto  Olympus  where  is  the  habitation  of  the  immortals." 

So  spake  he,  and  Athene  and  Hera  murmured,  that  were 
sitting  by  him  and  devising  ills  for  the  Trojans.  Now  Athene 
held  her  peace,  and  said  not  anything,  for  wrath  at  father 
Zeus,  and  fierce  anger  gat  hold  upon  her;  but  Hera's  heart 


156  HOMER 

contained  not  her  anger,  and  she  spake:  "Most  dread  son  of 
Kronos,  what  word  is  this  thou  hast  said?  Well  know  we, 
even  we,  that  thy  might  is  no  wise  puny ;  yet  still  have  we  pity 
for  the  Danaan  spearmen,  that  now  shall  perish  and  fill  up 
the  measure  of  grievous  fate.  Yet  will  we  refrain  from  battle, 
if  thou  biddest  us;  but  counsel  will  we  offer  to  the  Argives, 
such  as  shall  profit  them,  that  they  perish  not  all  at  thy  wrath." 

And  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  answered  and  said:  "At 
morn  shalt  thou  behold  most  mighty  Kronion,  if  thou  wilt 
have  it  so,  O  Hera,  ox-eyed  queen,  making  yet  more  havoc 
of  the  vast  army  of  Argive  spearmen;  for  headlong  Hector 
shall  not  refrain  from  battle  till  the  Peleus'  son  fleet  of  foot 
have  arisen  beside  the  ships,  that  day  when  these  shall  fight 
amid  the  sterns  in  most  grievous  stress,  around  Patroklos 
fallen.  Such  is  the  doom  of  heaven.  And  for  thine  anger 
reck  I  not,  not  even  though  thou  go  to  the  nethermost  bounds 
of  earth  and  sea,  where  sit  lapetos  and  Kronos  and  have  no 
joy  in  the  beams  of  Hyperion  the  Sun-god,  neither  in  any 
breeze,  but  deep  Tartaros  is  round  about  them.  Though  thou 
shouldest  wander  till  thou  come  even  thither,  yet  reck  I  not  of 
thy  vexation,  seeing  there  is  no  thing  more  unabashed  than 
thou." 

So  said  he,  but  white-armed  Hera  spake  him  no  word. 
And  the  sun's  bright  light  dropped  into  Ocean,  drawing  black 
night  across  Earth  the  grain-giver.  Against  the  Trojans'  will 
daylight  departed,  but  welcome,  thrice  prayed  for,  to  the 
Achaians  came  down  the  murky  night. 

Now  glorious  Hector  made  an  assembly  of  the  Trojans, 
taking  them  apart  from  the  ships,  beside  the  eddying  river, 
in  an  open  space  where  was  found  a  spot  clear  of  dead.  And 
they  came  down  from  their  chariots  to  the  ground  to  hear  the 
word  that  Hector,  dear  unto  Zeus,  proclaimed.  He  in  his  hand 
held  his  spear  eleven  cubits  long;  before  his  face  gleamed  the 
spear-head  of  bronze,  and  a  ring  of  gold  ran  round  about  it. 
Thereon  he  leaned  and  spake  to  the  Trojans,  saying:  "Hearken 
to  me,  Trojans  and  Dardanians  and  allies.  I  thought  but  now 
to  make  havoc  of  the  ships  and  all  the  Achaians  and  depart 
back  again  to  windy  Ilios ;  but  dusk  came  too  soon,  and  that 
in  chief  hath  now  saved  the  Argives  and  the  ships  beside  the 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   VIII  157 

beach  of  the  sea.  So  let  us  now  yield  to  black  night,  and  make 
our  supper  ready;  unyoke  ye  from  the  chariots  your  fair- 
maned  horses,  and  set  fodder  beside  them.  And  from  the 
city  bring  kine  and  goodly  sheep  with  speed ;  and  provide  you 
with  honey-hearted  wine,  and  com  from  your  houses,  and 
gather  much  wood  withal,  that  all  night  long  until  early- 
springing  dawn  we  may  bum  many  fires,  and  the  gleam  may 
reach  to  heaven;  lest  perchance  even  by  night  the  flowing- 
haired  Achaians  strive  to  take  flight  over  the  broad  back  of 
the  sea.  Verily  must  they  not  embark  upon  their  ships 
unvexed,  at  ease :  but  see  ye  that  many  a  one  of  them  have 
a  wound  to  nurse  even  at  home,  being  stricken  with  arrow 
or  keen-pointed  spear  as  he  leapeth  upon  his  ship;  that  so 
many  another  man  may  dread  to  wage  dolorous  war  on  the 
horse-taming  men  of  Troy.  And  let  the  heralds  dear  to 
Zeus  proclaim  throughout  the  city  that  young  maidens  and 
old  men  of  hoary  heads  camp  round  the  city  on  the  battle- 
ments builded  of  the  gods ;  and  let  the  women  folk  burn  a  great 
fire  each  in  her  hall ;  and  let  there  be  a  sure  watch  set,  lest  an 
ambush  enter  the  city  when  the  host  is  absent.  Thus  be  it, 
great-hearted  Trojans,  as  I  proclaim;  the  counsel  tliat  now 
is  sound,  let  that  stand  spoken;  further  will  I  proclaim  at 
dawn  amid  the  horse-taming  men  of  Troy.  I  pray  with  good 
hope  to  Zeus  and  all  the  gods,  to  drive  from  hence  these 
dogs  borne  onward  by  the  fates,  them  that  the  fates  bear  on 
in  the  black  ships.  Howbeit  for  the  night  will  we  guard 
our  own  selves,  and  at  morn  by  daybreak,  arrayed  in  our 
arniour,  let  us  awake  keen  battle  at  the  hollow  ships.  I  will 
know  whether  Tydeus'  son  stalwart  Diomedes  shall  thrust  me 
from  the  ships  back  to  the  wall,  or  I  shall  lay  him  low  with 
my  spear  and  bear  away  his  gory  spoils.  To-morrow  shall 
he  prove  his  valour,  whether  he  can  abide  the  onslaught  of 
my  spear.  But  he  amid  the  foremost,  I  ween,  shall  lie  stricken, 
and  many  comrades  round  about  their  lord  at  the  rising  of 
to-morrow's  sun.  Would  that  I  were  immortal  and  ageless  all 
my  days  and  honoured  like  as  Athene  is  honoured  and  Apollo, 
so  surely  as  this  day  bringeth  the  Argives  ill." 

So  Hector  made  harangue,  and  the  Trojans  clamoured 
applause.     And  they  loosed  their  sweating  steeds  from  the 


158  HOMER 

yoke,  and  tethered  them  with  thongs,  each  man  beside  his 
chariot;  and  from  the  city  they  brought  kine  and  goodly 
sheep  with  speed,  and  provided  them  with  honey-hearted  wine 
and  com  from  their  houses,  and  gathered  much  wood  withal ; 
and  sacrificed  to  the  immortals  unblemished  hecatombs.  And 
from  the  plain  the  winds  bare  into  heaven  the  sweet  savour. 
But  the  blessed  gods  regaled  not  themselves  nor  would  they 
aught  thereof;  for  sore  was  holy  Ilios  hated  of  them,  and 
Priam  and  the  folk  of  Priam  of  the  good  ashen  spear.  But 
these  with  high  hopes  sate  them  all  night  along  the  highways 
of  the  battle,  and  their  watchfires  burned  in  multitude.  Even 
as  when  in  heaven  the  stars  about  the  bright  moon  shine 
clear  to  see,  when  the  air  is  windless,  and  all  the  peaks  appear 
and  the  tall  headlands  and  glades,  and  from  heaven  breaketh 
open  the  infinite  air,  and  all  stars  are  seen,  and  the  shepherd's 
heart  is  glad;  even  in  like  multitude  between  the  ships  and 
the  streams  of  Xanthos  appeared  the  watchfires  that  the  Tro- 
jans kindled  in  front  of  Ilios.  A  thousand  fires  burned  in 
the  plain  and  by  the  side  of  each  sate  fifty  in  the  gleam  of 
blazing  fire.  And  the  horses  champed  white  barley  and  spelt, 
and  standing  by  their  chariots  waited  for  the  throned  Dawn. 


BOOK  IX 

How  Agamemnon  sent  an  embassage  to  Achilles,  beseeching  him 
to  be  appeased;  and  how  Achilles  denied  him. 

Thus  kept  the  Trojans  watch;  but  the  Achaians  were 
holden  of  heaven-sent  panic,  handmaid  of  palsying  fear,  and 
all  their  best  were  stricken  to  the  heart  with  grief  intolerable. 
Like  as  two  winds  stir  up  the  main,  the  home  of  fishes,  even 
the  north  wind  and  the  west  wind  that  blow  from  Thrace, 
coming  suddenly;  and  the  dark  billow  straighway  lifteth  up 
its  crest  and  casteth  much  tangle  out  along  the  sea;  even  so 
was  the  Achaians'  spirit  troubled  in  their  breast. 

But  Atreides  was  stricken  to  the  heart  with  sore  grief, 
and  went  about  bidding  the  clear-voiced  heralds   summon 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    IX  159 

every  man  by  name  to  the  assembly,  but  not  to  shout  aloud; 
and  himself  he  toiled  amid  the  foremost.  So  they  sat  sorrow- 
ful in  assembly,  and  Agamemnon  stood  up  weeping  like  unto 
a  fountain  of  dark  water  that  from  a  beetling  cliff  poureth 
down  its  black  stream;  even  so  with  deep  groaning  he  spake 
amid  the  Argives  and  said:  "My  friends,  leaders  and  captains 
of  the  Argives,  Zeus  son  of  Kronos  hath  bound  me  with 
might  in  grievous  blindness  of  soul;  hard  of  heart  is  he,  for 
that  erewhile  he  promised  and  gave  his  pledge  that  not  till  I 
had  laid  waste  well-walled  Ilios  should  I  depart,  but  now 
hath  planned  a  cruel  wile,  and  biddeth  me  return  in  dis- 
honour to  Argos  with  the  loss  of  many  of  my  folk.  Such 
meseemeth  is  the  good  pleasure  of  most  mighty  Zeus,  that 
hath  laid  low  the  heads  of  many  cities,  yea  and  shall  lay 
low;  for  his  is  highest  power.  So  come,  even  as  I  shall  bid 
let  us  all  obey;  let  us  flee  with  our  ships  to  our  dear  native 
land,  for  now  shall  we  never  take  wide-wayed  Troy." 

So  said  he,  and  they  all  held  their  peace  and  kept  silence. 
Long  time  were  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  voiceless  for  grief, 
but  at  the  last  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  spake  amid  them 
and  said :  "Atreides,  with  thee  first  in  thy  folly  will  I  contend, 
where  it  is  just,  O  king,  even  in  the  assembly;  be  not  thou 
wroth  therefor.  My  valour  didst  thou  blame  in  chief  amid 
the  Danaans,  and  saidst  that  I  was  no  man  of  war  but  a 
coward;  and  all  this  know  the  Argives  both  young  and  old. 
But  the  son  of  crooked-counselling  Kronos  hath  endowed  thee 
but  by  halves;  he  granted  thee  to  have  the  honour  of  the 
sceptre  above  all  men,  but  valour  he  gave  thee  not,  wherein  is 
highest  power.  Sir,  deemest  thou  that  the  sons  of  the  Achai- 
ans are  thus  indeed  cowards  and  weaklings  as  thou  sayest? 
But  and  if  thine  own  heart  be  set  on  departing,  go  thy  way; 
the  way  is  before  thee,  and  thy  ships  stand  beside  the  sea, 
even  the  great  multitude  that  followed  thee  from  Mykene. 
But  all  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  will  tarry  here  until 
we  lay  waste  Troy.  Nay,  let  them  too  flee  on  their  ships 
to  their  dear  native  land;  yet  will  we  twain,  even  I  and 
Sthenelos,  fight  till  we  attain  the  goal  of  Ilios;  for  in  God's 
name  are  we  come." 

So  said  he,  and  all  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  shouted  aloud, 


160  HOMER 

applauding  the  saying  of  horse-taming  Diomedes.  Then 
knightly  Nestor  arose  and  said  amid  them:  "Tydeides,  in 
battle  art  thou  passing  mighty,  and  in  council  art  thou  best 
among  thine  equals  in  years;  none  of  all  the  Achaians  will 
make  light  of  thy  word  nor  gainsay  it;  but  thou  hast  not 
made  a  full  end  of  thy  words.  Moreover  thou  art  a  young 
man  indeed,  and  mightest  e\'en  be  my  son,  my  youngest -born ; 
yet  thou  counsellest  prudently  the  princes  of  the  Achaians, 
because  thou  speakest  according  unto  right.  But  lo,  I  that 
avow  me  to  be  older  than  thou  will  speak  forth  and  expound 
everything;  neither  shall  any  man  despise  my  saying,  not  even 
the  lord  Agamemnon.  A  tribeless,  lawless,  homeless  man  is 
he  that  loveth  bitter  civil  strife.  Howbeit  now  let  us  yield  to 
black  night  and  make  ready  our  meal;  and  let  the  sentinels 
bestow  them  severally  along  the  deep-delved  foss  without  the 
wall.  This  charge  give  I  to  the  young  men;  and  thou, 
Atreides,  lead  then  the  way,  for  thou  art  the  most  royal. 
Spread  thou  a  feast  for  the  councillors ;  that  is  thy  place  and 
seemly  for  thee.  Thy  huts  are  full  of  wine  that  the  ships  of 
the  Achaians  bring  thee  by  day  from  Thrace  across  the  wide 
sea;  all  entertainment  is  for  thee,  being  king  over  many.  In 
the  gathering  of  many  shalt  thou  listen  to  him  that  deviseth 
the  most  excellent  counsel;  sore  need  have  all  the  Achaians  of 
such  as  is  good  and  prudent,  because  hard  by  the  ship  our  foe- 
men  are  burning  their  watch-fires  in  multitude ;  what  man  can 
rejoice  thereat?  This  night  shall  either  destroy  or  save  the 
host." 

So  said  he,  and  they  gladly  hearkened  to  him  and  obeyed. 
Forth  sallied  the  sentinels  in  their  harness,  around  Thrasy- 
medes  Nestor's  son,  shepherd  of  the  host,  and  Askalaphos  and 
lalmenos  sons  of  Ares,  and  Meriones  and  Aphareus  and  Deipy- 
ros  and  Kreion's  son  noble  Lykomedes.  Seven  were  the  cap- 
tains of  the  sentinels,  and  with  each  went  fivescore  young  men 
bearing  their  long  spears  in  their  hands;  and  they  took  post 
midway  betwixt  foss  and  wall,  and  kindled  a  fire  and  made 
ready  each  man  his  meal. 

Then  Atreides  gathered  the  councillors  of  the  Achaians, 
and  led  them  to  his  hut,  and  spread  before  them  an  abundant 
feast.    So  they  put  forth  their  hands  to  the  good  cheer  that  lay 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  161 

before  them.  And  when  they  had  put  away  from  them  the 
desire  of  meat  and  drink,  then  the  old  man  first  began  to 
weave  his  counsel,  even  Nestor,  whose  rede  of  old  time  was 
approved  the  best.  He  of  good  intent  spake  to  them  and  said : 
"Most  noble  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  in  thy 
name  will  I  end  and  with  thy  name  begin,  because  thou  art 
king  over  many  hosts,  and  to  thy  hand  Zeus  hath  entrusted 
sceptre  and  law,  that  thou  mayest  take  counsel  for  thy  folk. 
Thee  therefore  more  than  any  it  behooveth  both  to  speak  and 
hearken,  and  to  accomplish  what  another  than  thou  may  say, 
when  his  heart  biddeth  him  speak  for  profit :  wheresoever  thou 
leadest  all  shall  turn  on  thee,  so  I  will  speak  as  meseemeth  best. 
No  other  man  shall  have  a  more  excellent  thought  than  this  that 
I  bear  in  mind  from  old  time  even  until  now,  since  the  day 
when  thou,  O  heaven-sprung  king,  didst  go  and  take  the  damsel 
Briseis  from  angry  Achilles'  hut  by  no  consent  of  ours.  Nay, 
I  right  heartily  dissuaded  thee ;  but  thou  yieldedst  to  thy  proud 
spirit,  and  dishonouredst  a  man  of  valour  whom  even  the  im- 
mortals honoured;  for  thou  didst  take  and  keepest  from  him 
his  meed  of  valour.  Still  let  us  even  now  take  thought  how  we 
may  appease  him  and  persuade  him  with  gifts  of  friendship 
and  kindly  words." 

And  Agamemnon  king  of  men  answered  and  said  to  him : 
"Old  sir,  in  no  false  wise  hast  thou  accused  my  folly.  Fool 
was  I,  I  myself  deny  it  not.  Worth  many  hosts  is  he  whom 
Zeus  loveth  in  his  heart,  even  as  now  he  honoureth  this  man 
and  destroy eth  the  host  of  the  Achaians.  But  seeing  I  was  a 
fool  in  that  I  yielded  to  my  sorry  passion,  I  will  make  amends 
and  give  a  recompense  beyond  telling.  In  the  miidst  of  you 
all  I  will  name  the  excellent  gifts ;  seven  tripods  untouched  of 
fire,  and  ten  talents  of  gold  and  twenty  gleaming  caldrons,  and 
twelve  stalwart  horses,  winners  in  the  race,  that  have  taken 
prizes  by  their  speed.  No  lackwealth  were  that  man,  neither 
undowered  of  precious  gold,  whose  substance  were  as  great 
as  the  prizes  my  whole-hoovcd  steeds  have  borne  me  off. 
And  seven  women  will  I  give,  skilled  in  excellent  handiwork, 
Lesbians  whom  I  chose  me  from  the  spoils  the  day  that  he 
himself  took  stablished  Lesbos,  surpassing  womankind  in  beau- 
ty.    These  will  I  give  him,  and  with  them  shall  be  she  whom 


162  HOMER 

erst  I  took  from  him,  even  the  daughter  of  Briseus;  more- 
over I  will  swear  a  great  oath  that  never  I  went  up  into  her 
bed  nor  had  with  her  converse  as  is  the  wont  of  mankind,  even 
of  men  and  women.  All  these  things  shall  be  set  straightway 
before  him;  and  if  hereafter  the  gods  grant  us  to  lay  waste  the 
great  city  of  Priam,  then  let  him  enter  in  when  we  Achaians 
be  dividing  the  spoil,  and  lade  his  ship  full  of  gold  and  bronze, 
and  himself  choose  twenty  Trojan  women,  the  fairest  that 
there  be  after  Helen  of  Argos,  And  if  we  win  to  the  richest 
of  lands,  even  Achaian  Argos,  he  shall  be  my  son  and  I  will 
hold  him  in  like  honour  with  Orestes,  my  stripling  boy  that  is 
nurtured  in  all  abundance.  Three  daughters  are  mine  in  my 
well-builded  hall,  Chrysothemis  and  Laodike  and  Iphianassa; 
let  him  take  of  them  which  he  will,  without  gifts  of  wooing, 
to  Peleus'  house ;  and  I  will  add  a  great  dower  such  as  no  man 
ever  yet  gave  with  his  daughter.  And  seven  well-peopled  cities 
will  I  give  him,  Kardamyle  and  Enope  and  grassy  Hire  and 
holy  Pherai  and  Antheia  deep  in  meads,  and  fair  Aipeia  and 
Pedasos  land  of  vines.  And  all  are  nigh  to  the  salt  sea,  on  the 
uttermost  border  of  sandy  Pylos;  therein  dwell  men  abound- 
ing in  flocks  and  kine,  men  that  shall  worship  him  like  a  god 
with  gifts,  and  beneath  his  sway  fulfil  his  prosperous  ordi- 
nances. All  this  will  I  accomplish  so  he  but  cease  from  wrath. 
Let  him  yield ;  Hades  I  ween  is  not  to  be  softened  neither  over- 
come, and  therefore  is  he  hatefullest  of  all  gods  to  mortals. 
Yea,  let  him  be  ruled  by  me,  inasmuch  as  I  am  more  royal  and 
avow  me  to  be  the  elder  in  years." 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  and  said: 
"Most  noble  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  now  are 
these  gifts  not  lightly  to  be  esteemed  that  thou  offerest  king 
Achilles.  Come  therefore,  let  us  speed  forth  picked  men  to  go 
with  all  haste  to  the  hut  of  Peleus'  son  Achilles.  Lo  now, 
whomsoever  I  appoint  let  them  consent.  First  let  Phoinix  dear 
to  Zeus  lead  the  way,  and  after  him  great  Aias  and  noble 
Odysseus;  and  for  heralds  let  Odios  and  Eurybates  be  their 
companions.  And  now  bring  water  for  our  hands,  and  bid 
keep  holy  silence,  that  we  may  pray  unto  Zeus  the  son  of 
•Kronos,  if  perchance  he  will  have  mercy  upon  us." 

So  said  he,  and  spake  words  that  were  well-pleasing  unto 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  163 

all.  Forthwith  the  heralds  poured  water  on  their  hands,  and 
the  young  men  crowned  the  bowls  with  drink  and  gave  each 
man  his  portion  after  they  had  poured  the  libation  in  the  cups. 
And  when  they  had  made  libation  and  drunk  as  their  heart 
desired,  they  issued  forth  from  the  hut  of  Agamemnon  son  of 
Atreus,  And  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  gave  them  full 
charge,  with  many  a  glance  to  each,  and  chiefest  to  Odysseus, 
how  they  should  essay  to  prevail  on  Peleus'  noble  son. 

So  the  twain  went  along  the  shore  of  the  loud-sounding 
sea,  making  instant  prayer  to  the  earth-embracer,  the  Shaker 
of  the  Earth,  that  they  might  with  ease  prevail  on  Aiakides' 
great  heart.  So  they  came  to  the  huts  and  ships  of  the  Myr- 
midons, and  found  their  king  taking  his  pleasure  of  a  loud 
lyre,  fair,  of  curious  work,  with  a  silver  cross-bar  upon  it; 
one  that  he  had  taken  from  the  spoils  when  he  laid  Eetion's 
city  waste.  Therein  he  was  delighting  his  soul,  and  singing 
the  glories  of  heroes.  And  over  against  him  sate  Patroklos 
alone  in  silence,  watching  till  Aiakides  should  cease  from  sing- 
ing. So  the  twain  came  forward,  and  noble  Odysseus  led  the 
way,  and  they  stood  before  his  face;  and  Achilles  sprang  up 
amazed  with  the  lyre  in  his  hand,  and  left  the  seat  where  he 
was  sitting,  and  in  like  manner  Patroklos  when  he  beheld 
the  men  arose.  Then  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  greeted  them  and 
said:  "Welcome;  verily  ye  are  friends  that  are  come — sore 
indeed  is  the  need — even  ye  that  are  dearest  of  the  Achaians 
to  me  even  in  my  wrath." 

So  spake  noble  Achilles  and  led  them  forward,  and  made 
them  sit  on  settles  and  carpets  of  purple;  and  anon  he  spake 
to  Patroklos  being  near:  "Bring  forth  a  greater  bowl,  thou  son 
of  Menoitios;  mingle  stronger  drink,  and  prepare  each  man  a 
cup,  for  dearest  of  men  are  these  that  are  under  my  roof." 

So  said  he,  and  Patroklos  hearkened  to  his  dear  comrade. 
He  cast  down  a  great  fleshing-block  in  the  fire-light,  and  laid 
thereon  a  sheep's  back  and  a  fat  goat's,  and  a  great  hog's  chine 
rich  with  fat.  And  Automedon  held  them  for  him,  while 
Achilles  carved.  Then  he  sliced  well  the  meat  and  pierced  it 
through  with  spits,  and  Menoitios*  son,  that  godlike  hero,  made 
the  fire  burn  high.  Then  when  the  fire  was  burned  down  and 
the  flame  waned,  he  scattered  the  embers  and  laid  the  spits 


164  HOMER 

thereover,  resting  them  on  the  spit-racks,  when  he  had  sprinkled 
them  with  holy  salt.  Then  when  he  had  roasted  the  meat  and 
apportioned  it  in  the  platters,  Patroklos  took  bread  and  dealt 
it  forth  on  the  table  in  fair  baskets,  and  Achilles  dealt  the 
meat  And  he  sate  him  over  against  godlike  Odysseus  by  the 
other  wall,  and  bade  his  comrade  Patroklos  do  sacrifice  to  the 
gods;  so  he  cast  the  first-fruits  into  the  fire.  Then  put  they 
forth  their  hands  to  the  good  cheer  lying  before  them.  And 
when  they  had  put  from  them  the  desire  of  meat  and  drink, 
Aias  nodded  to  Phoinix.  But  noble  Odysseus  marked  it,  and 
filled  a  cup  with  wine  and  pledged  Achilles :  "Hail,  O  Achilles ! 
The  fair  feast  lack  we  not  either  in  the  hut  of  Agamemnon 
son  of  Atreus  neither  now  in  thine ;  for  feasting  is  there  abun- 
dance to  our  heart's  desire,  but  our  thought  is  not  for  matters 
of  the  delicious  feast;  nay,  we  behold  very  sore  destruction, 
thou  fosterling  of  Zeus,  and  are  afraid.  Now  is  it  in  doubt 
whether  we  save  the  benched  ships  or  behold  them  perish,  if 
thou  put  not  on  thy  might.  Nigh  unto  ships  and  wall  have  the 
high-hearted  Trojans  and  famed  allies  pitched  their  camp,  and 
kindled  many  fires  throughout  their  host,  and  ween  that  they 
shall  no  more  be  withheld  but  will  fall  on  our  black  ships.  And 
Zeus  son  of  Kronos  sheweth  them  signs  upon  the  right  by 
lightning,  and  Hector  greatly  exulteth  in  his  might  and  rageth 
furiously,  trusting  in  Zeus,  and  recketh  not  of  god  nor  man, 
for  mighty  madness  hath  possessed  him.  He  prayeth  bright 
Dawn  to  shine  forth  with  all  speed,  for  he  hath  passed  his 
word  to  smite  off  from  the  ships  the  ensigns'  tops,  and  to  fire 
the  hulls  with  devouring  flame,  and  hard  thereby  to  make  havoc 
of  the  Achaians  confounded  by  the  smoke.  Therefore  am  I 
sore  afraid  in  my  heart,  lest  the  gods  fulfil  his  boastings,  and 
it  be  fated  for  us  to  perish  here  in  Troy-land,  far  from  Argos 
pasture-land  of  horses.  Up  then!  if  thou  art  minded  even 
at  the  last  to  save  the  failing  sons  of  the  Achaians  from  the 
war-din  of  the  Trojans.  Thyself  shalt  have  grief  hereafter, 
and  when  the  ill  is  done  is  there  no  way  to  find  a  cure  there- 
for; in  good  time  rather  take  thou  thought  to  ward  the  evil 
day  from  the  Danaans.  Friend,  surely  to  thee  thy  father 
Peleus  gave  commandment  the  day  he  sent  thee  to  Agamemnon 
forth  from  Phthia :    *My  son,  strength  shall  Athene  and  Hera 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  165 

give  thee  if  they  will;  but  do  thou  refrain  thy  proud  soul  in 
thy  breast,  for  gentle-mindedness  is  the  better  part ;  and  with- 
draw from  mischievous  strife,  that  so  the  Argives  may  honour 
thee  the  more,  both  young  and  old.'  Thus  the  old  man  charged 
thee,  but  thou  f  orgettest.  Yet  cease  now  at  the  last,  and  eschew 
thy  grievous  wrath;  Agamemnon  ofTereth  thee  worthy  gifts, 
so  thou  wilt  cease  from  anger.  Lo  now,  hearken  thou  to  me, 
and  I  will  tell  thee  all  the  gifts  that  in  his  hut  Agamemnon 
promised  thee :  seven  tripods  untouched  of  fire,  and  ten  talents 
of  gold  and  twenty  gleaming  caldrons  and  twelve  stalwart 
horses,  winners  in  the  race,  that  have  taken  prizes  by  their 
speed.  No  lackwealth  were  that  man,  neither  undowered  of 
precious  gold,  whose  substance  were  as  great  as  the  prizes 
Agamemnon's  steeds  have  borne  him  off.  And  seven  women 
will  he  give,  skilled  in  excellent  handiwork,  Lesbians  whom  he 
chose  him  from  the  spoils  the  day  that  thou  thyself  tookest 
Lesbos,  surpassing  womankind  in  beauty.  These  will  he  give 
thee,  and  with  them  shall  be  she  whom  erst  he  took  from  thee, 
even  the  daughter  of  Briseus ;  moreover  he  will  swear  a  great 
oath  that  never  he  went  up  into  her  bed  nor  had  with  her  con- 
verse as  is  the  wont  of  mankind,  O  king,  even  of  men  and 
women.  All  these  things  shall  be  set  straightway  before  thee ; 
and  if  hereafter  the  gods  grant  us  to  lay  waste  the  great  city 
of  Priam,  then  enter  thou  in  when  we  Achaians  be  dividing  the 
spoil,  and  lade  thy  ship  full  of  gold  and  bronze,  and  thyself 
choose  twenty  Trojan  women,  the  fairest  that  there  be  after 
Helen  of  Argos.  And  if  we  win  to  the  richest  of  lands,  even 
Achaian  Argos,  thou  shalt  be  his  son  and  he  will  hold  thee  in 
like  honour  with  Orestes,  his  stripling  boy  that  is  nurtured  in 
all  abundance.  Three  daughters  are  his  in  his  well-builded 
hall,  Chrysothemis  and  Laodike  and  Iphianassa;  take  thou  of 
them  which  thou  wilt,  without  gifts  of  wooing,  to  Peleus' 
house ;  and  he  will  add  a  great  dower  such  as  no  man  ever  yet 
gave  with  his  daughter.  And  seven  well-peopled  cities  will  he 
give  thee,  Kardamyle  and  Enope  and  grassy  Hire  and  holy 
Pherai  and  Antheia  deep  in  meads,  and  fair  Aipeia  and  Peda- 
sos  land  of  vines.  And  all  are  nigh  to  the  sea,  on  the  utter- 
most border  of  sandy  Pylos ;  therein  dwell  men  abounding  in 
flocks  and  kine,  m.en  that  shall  worship  thee  like  a  god  with 


166  HOMER 

gifts,  and  beneath  thy  sway  fulfil  thy  prosperous  ordinances. 
All  this  will  he  accomplish  so  thou  but  cease  from  wrath.  But 
and  if  Agamemnon  be  too  hateful  to  thy  heart,  both  he  and 
his  gifts,  yet  have  thou  pity  on  all  the  Achaians  that  faint 
throughout  the  host ;  these  shall  honour  thee  as  a  god,  for  ver- 
ily thou  wilt  earn  exceeding  great  glory  at  their  hands.  Yea 
now  mightest  thou  slay  Hector,  for  he  would  come  very  near 
thee  in  his  deadly  madness,  because  he  deemeth  that  there  is  no 
man  like  unto  him  among  the  Danaans  that  the  ships  brought 
hither." 

And  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  answered  and  said  unto  him: 
"Heaven-sprung  son  of  Laertes,  Odysseus  of  many  wiles,  in 
openness  must  I  now  declare  unto  you  my  saying,  even  as  I 
am  minded  and  as  the  fulfilment  thereof  shall  be,  that  ye  may 
not  sit  before  me  and  coax  this  way  and  that.  For  hateful  to 
me  even  as  the  gates  of  hell  is  he  that  hideth  one  thing  in  his 
heart  and  uttereth  another:  but  I  will  speak  what  meseemeth 
best  Not  me,  I  ween,  shall  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus  per- 
suade, nor  the  other  Danaans,  seeing  we  were  to  have  no  thank 
for  battling  with  the  foemen  ever  without  respite.  He  that 
abideth  at  home  hath  equal  share  with  him  that  fighteth  his 
best,  and  in  like  honour  are  held  both  the  coward  and  the 
brave ;  death  cometh  alike  to  the  untoiling  and  to  him  that  hath 
toiled  long.  Neither  have  I  any  profit  for  that  I  endured  tribu- 
lation of  soul,  ever  staking  my  life  in  fight.  Even  as  a  hen 
bringeth  her  unfledged  chickens  each  morsel  as  she  winneth  it, 
and  with  herself  it  goeth  hard,  even  so  I  was  wont  to  watch 
out  many  a  sleepless  night  and  pass  through  many  bloody  days 
of  battle,  warring  with  folk  for  their  women's  sake.  Twelve 
cities  of  men  have  I  laid  waste  from  ship-board,  and  from  land 
eleven,  I  do  you  to  wit,  throughout  deep-soiled  Troy -land ;  out 
of  all  these  took  I  many  goodly  treasures  and  would  bring  and 
give  them  all  to  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus,  and  he  staying 
behind  amid  the  fleet  ships  would  take  them  and  portion  out 
some  few  but  keep  the  most.  Now  some  he  gave  to  be  meeds 
of  honour  to  the  princes  and  the  kings,  and  theirs  are  left 
untouched;  only  from  me  of  all  the  Achaians  took  he  my 
darling  lady  and  keepeth  her — let  him  sleep  beside  her  and 
take  his  joy!     But  why  must  the  Argives  make  war  on  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  167 

Trojans?  why  hath  Atreides  gathered  his  host  and  led  them 
hither  ?  is  it  not  for  lovely-haired  Helen's  sake  ?  Do  then  the 
sons  of  Atreus  alone  of  mortal  men  love  their  wives?  surely 
whatsoever  man  is  good  and  sound  of  mind  loveth  his  own 
and  cherisheth  her,  even  as  I  too  loved  mine  with  all  my  heart, 
though  but  the  captive  of  my  spear.  But  now  that  he  hath 
taken  my  meed  of  honour  from  mine  arms  and  hath  deceived 
me,  let  him  not  tempt  me  that  know  him  full  well;  he  shall 
not  prevail.  Nay,  Odysseus,  let  him  take  counsel  with  thee 
and  all  the  princes  to  ward  from  the  ships  the  consuming  fire. 
Verily  without  mine  aid  he  hath  wrought  many  things,  and 
built  a  wall  and  dug  a  foss  about  it  wide  and  deep,  and  set  a 
palisade  therein;  yet  even  so  can  he  not  stay  murderous  Hec- 
tor's might.  But  so  long  as  I  was  fighting  amid  the  Achaians, 
Hector  had  no  mind  to  array  his  battle  far  from  the  wall,  but 
scarce  came  unto  the  Skaian  gates  and  to  the  oak-tree;  there 
once  he  awaited  me  alone  and  scarce  escaped  my  onset.  But 
now,  seeing  I  have  no  mind  to  fight  with  noble  Hector,  I  will 
to-morrow  do  sacrifice  to  Zeus  and  all  the  gods,  and  store  well 
my  ships  when  I  have  launched  them  on  the  salt  sea — then 
shalt  thou  see,  if  thou  wilt  and  hast  any  care  therefor,  my  ships 
sailing  at  break  o/  day  over  Hellespont,  the  fishes'  home,  and 
my  men  right  eager  at  the  oar;  and  if  the  great  Shaker  of  the 
Earth  grant  me  good  journey,  on  the  third  day  should  I  reach 
deep-soiled  Phthia.  There  are  my  great  possessions  that  I 
left  when  I  came  hither  to  my  hurt ;  and  yet  more  gold  and 
ruddy  bronze  shall  I  bring  from  hence,  and  fair-girdled  women 
and  grey  iron,  all  at  least  that  were  mine  by  lot ;  only  my  meed 
of  honour  hath  he  that  gave  it  me  taken  back  in  his  despite- 
fulness,  even  lord  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus.  To  him  declare 
ye  everything  even  as  I  charge  you,  openly,  that  all  the  Acha- 
ians likewise  may  have  indignation,  if  haply  he  hopeth  to  be- 
guile yet  some  other  Danaan,  for  that  he  is  ever  clothed  in 
shamelessness.  Verily  not  in  my  face  would  he  dare  to  look, 
though  he  have  the  front  of  a  dog.  Neither  will  I  devise  coun- 
sel with  him  nor  any  enterprise,  for  utterly  he  hath  deceived 
me  and  done  wickedly ;  but  never  again  shall  he  beguile  me  with 
fair  speech — let  this  suffice  him.  Let  him  begone  in  peace; 
Zeus  the  lord  of  counsel  hath  taken  away  his  wits.     Hateful 


168  HOMER 

to  me  are  his  gifts,  and  I  hold  him  at  a  straw's  worth.  Not 
even  if  he  gave  me  ten  times,  yea  twenty,  all  that  now  is  his, 
and  all  that  may  come  to  him  otherwhence,  even  all  the  revenue 
of  Orchomenos  or  Egyptian  Thebes  where  the  treasure-houses 
are  stored  fullest — Thebes  of  the  hundred  gates,  whence  sally 
forth  two  hundred  warriors  through  each  with  horses  and 
chariots — nay,  nor  gifts  in  number  as  sand  or  dust;  not  even 
so  shall  Agamemnon  persuade  my  soul  till  he  have  paid  me  back 
all  the  bitter  despite.  And  the  daughter  of  Agamemnon  son  of 
Atreus  will  I  not  wed,  not  were  she  rival  of  golden  Aphrodite 
for  fairness  and  for  handiwork  matched  bright-eyed  Athene— 
not  even  then  will  I  wed  her;  let  him  choose  him  of  the  Acha- 
ians  another  that  is  his  peer  and  is  more  royal  than  I.  For  if 
the  gods  indeed  preserve  me  and  I  come  unto  my  home,  then 
will  Peleus  himself  seek  me  a  wife.  Many  Achaian  maidens 
are  there  throughout  Hellas  and  Phthia,  daughters  of  princes 
that  ward  their  cities;  whomsoever  of  these  I  wish  will  I 
make  my  dear  lady.  Very  often  was  my  high  soul  moved  to 
take  me  there  a  wedded  wife,  a  help  meet  for  me,  and  have  joy 
of  the  possessions  that  the  old  man  Peleus  possesseth.  For 
not  of  like  worth  with  life  hold  I  even  all  the  wealth  that  men 
say  was  possessed  of  the  well-peopled  city  of  Ilios  in  days  of 
peace  gone  by,  before  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  came ;  neither 
all  the  treasure  that  the  stone  threshold  of  the  archer  Phoe- 
bus Apollo  encompasseth  in  rocky  Pytho.  For  kine  and  goodly 
flocks  are  to  be  had  for  the  harrying,  and  tripods  and  chestnut 
horses  for  the  purchasing;  but  to  bring  back  man's  life  neither 
harrying  nor  earning  availeth  when  once  it  hath  passed  the 
barrier  of  his  lips.  For  thus  my  goddess  mother  telleth  me, 
Thetis  the  silver-footed,  that  twain  fates  are  bearing  me  to  the 
issue  of  death.  H  I  abide  here  and  besiege  the  Trojans'  city, 
then  my  returning  home  is  taken  from  me,  but  my  fame  shall 
be  imperishable;  but  if  I  go  home  to  my  dear  native  land,  my 
high  fame  is  taken  from  me,  but  my  life  shall  endure  long 
while,  neither  shall  the  issue  of  death  soon  reach  me.  More- 
over I  would  counsel  you  all  to  set  sail  homeward,  seeing  ye 
shall  never  reach  your  goal  of  steep  Ilios ;  of  a  surety  far-seeing 
Zeus  holdeth  his  hand  over  her  anh  her  folk  are  of  good 
courage.    So  go  your  way  and  tell  my  answer  to  the  princes  of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  169 

the  Achaians,  even  as  is  the  office  of  elders,  that  they  may 
devise  in  their  hearts  some  other  better  counsel,  such  as  shall 
save  them  their  ships  and  the  host  of  the  Achaians  amid  the 
hollow  ships :  since  this  counsel  availeth  them  naught  that  they 
have  now  devised,  by  reason  of  my  fierce  wrath.  But  let 
Phoinix  now  abide  with  us  and  lay  him  to  rest,  that  he  may 
follow  with  me  on  my  ships  to  our  dear  native  land  to-morrow, 
if  he  will ;  for  I  will  not  take  him  perforce." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  all  held  their  peace  and  were  still, 
and  marvelled  at  his  saying;  for  he  denied  them  very  vehe- 
mently. But  at  the  last  spake  to  them  the  old  knight  Phoinix, 
bursting  into  tears,  because  he  was  sore  afraid  for  the  ships  of 
the  Achaians:  "If  indeed  thou  ponderest  departure  in  thy 
heart,  glorious  Achilles,  and  hast  no  mind  at  all  to  save  the 
fleet  ships  from  consuming  fire,  because  that  wrath  hath  entered 
into  thy  heart ;  how  can  I  be  left  of  thee,  dear  son,  alone 
thereafter  ?  To  thee  did  the  old  knight  Peleus  send  me  the  day 
he  sent  thee  to  Agamemnon  forth  from  Phthia,  a  stripling  yet 
unskilled  in  equal  war  and  in  debate  wherein  men  wax  pre- 
eminent. Therefore  sent  he  me  to  teach  thee  all  these  things, 
to  be  both  a  speaker  of  words  and  a  doer  of  deeds.  So  would 
I  not  be  left  alone  of  thee,  dear  son,  not  even  if  God  himself 
should  take  on  him  to  strip  my  years  from  me,  and  make  me 
fresh  and  young  as  in  the  day  when  first  I  left  Hellas  the 
home  of  fair  women,  fleeing  from  strife  against  my  father 
Amyntor  son  of  Ormenos :  for  he  was  sore  angered  with  me  by 
reason  of  his  lovely-haired  concubine,  whom  he  ever  cherished 
and  wronged  his  wife  my  mother.  So  she  besought  me  con- 
tinually by  my  knees  to  go  in  first  unto  the  concubine,  that  the 
old  man  might  be  hateful  to  her.  I  hearkened  to  her  and  did 
the  deed ;  but  my  sire  was  ware  thereof  forthwith  and  cursed 
me  mightily,  and  called  the  dire  Erinyes  to  look  that  never 
should  any  dear  son  sprung  of  my  body  sit  upon  my  knees: 
and  the  gods  fulfilled  his  curse,  even  Zeus  of  the  underworld 
and  dread  Persephone.  Then  took  I  counsel  to  slay  him  with 
the  keen  sword ;  but  some  immortal  stayed  mine  anger,  bring- 
ing to  my  mind  the  people's  voice  and  all  the  reproaches  of 
men,  lest  I  should  be  called  a  father-slayer  amid  the  Achaians. 
Then  would  my  soul  no  more  be  refrained  at  all  within  my 


170  HOMER 

breast  to  tarry  in  the  halls  of  mine  angered  father.  Now  my 
fellows  and  my  kinsmen  came  about  me  with  many  prayers, 
and  refrained  me  there  within  the  halls,  and  slaughtered  many 
goodly  sheep  and  shambling  kine  with  crooked  horns;  and 
many  swine  rich  with  fat  were  stretched  to  singe  over  the 
flames  of  Hephaistos,  and  wine  from  that  old  man's  jars  was 
drunken  without  stint.  Nine  nights  long  slept  they  all  night 
around  my  body;  they  kept  watch  in  turn,  neither  were  the 
fires  quenched,  one  beneath  the  colonnade  of  the  fenced  court- 
yard and  another  in  the  porch  before  the  chamber  doors.  But 
when  the  tenth  dark  night  was  come  upon  me,  then  burst  I  my 
cunningly  fitted  chamber  doors,  and  issued  forth  and  over- 
leapt  the  courtyard  fence  lightly,  unmarked  of  watchmen  and 
handmaidens.  Then  fled  I  far  through  Hellas  of  wide  lawns, 
and  came  to  deep-soiled  Phthia,  mother  of  flocks,  even  tmto 
king  Peleus ;  and  he  received  me  kindly  and  cherished  me  as  a 
father  cherisheth  his  only  son,  his  stripling  heir  of  great  pos- 
sessions; and  he  made  me  rich  and  gave  much  people  to  me, 
and  I  dwelt  in  the  uttermost  part  of  Phthia  and  was  king  over 
the  Dolopians.  Yea,  I  reared  thee  to  this  greatness,  thou  god- 
like Achilles,  with  my  heart's  love;  for  with  none  other 
wouldest  thou  go  unto  the  feast,  neither  take  meat  in  the  hall, 
till  that  I  had  set  thee  upon  my  knees  and  stayed  thee  with  the 
savoury  morsel  cut  first  for  thee,  and  put  the  wine-cup  to  thy 
lips.  Oft  hast  thou  stained  the  doublet  on  my  breast  with 
sputtering  of  wine  in  thy  sorry  helplessness.  Thus  I  suffered 
much  with  thee  and  much  I  toiled,  being  mindful  that  the  gods 
in  nowise  created  any  issue  of  my  body ;  but  I  made  thee  my 
son,  thou  godlike  Achilles,  that  thou  mayest  yet  save  me  from 
grievous  destruction.  Therefore,  Achilles,  rule  thy  high  spirit ; 
neither  beseemeth  it  thee  to  have  a  ruthless  heart.  Nay,  even 
the  very  gods  can  bend,  and  theirs  withal  is  loftier  majesty  and 
honour  and  might.  Their  hearts  by  incense  and  reverent  vows 
and  drink-offering  and  burnt-offering  men  turn  with  prayer, 
so  oft  as  any  transgresseth  and  doeth  sin.  Moreover  Prayers 
of  penitence  are  daughters  of  great  Zeus,  halting  and  wrinkled 
and  of  eyes  askance,  that  have  their  task  withal  to  go  in  the 
steps  of  Sin.  For  Sin  is  strong  and  fleet  of  foot,  wherefore 
she  far  outrunneth  all  prayers,  and  goeth  before  them  over 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  171 

all  the  earth  making  men  fall,  and  Prayers  follow  behind  to 
heal  the  harm.  Now  whosoever  reverenceth  Zeus'  daughters 
when  they  draw  near,  him  they  greatly  bless  and  hear  his  peti- 
tions; but  when  one  denieth  them  and  stifily  refuseth,  then 
depart  they  and  make  prayer  unto  Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos  that 
sin  may  come  upon  such  an  one,  that  he  may  fall  and  pay  the 
price.  Nay,  Achilles,  look  thou  too  that  there  attend  upon 
the  daughters  of  Zeus  the  reverence  that  bendeth  the  heart  of 
all  men  that  be  right-minded.  For  if  Atreides  brought  thee 
not  gifts  and  foretold  thee  not  more  hereafter,  but  were  ever 
furiously  wroth,  then  I  were  not  he  that  should  bid  thee  cast 
aside  thine  anger  and  save  the  Argives,  even  in  their  sore  need 
of  thee.  But  now  he  both  offereth  thee  forthwith  many  gifts, 
and  promiseth  thee  more  hereafter,  and  hath  sent  heroes  to 
beseech  thee,  the  best  men  chosen  throughout  the  host  of  the 
Achaians  and  that  to  thyself  are  dearest  of  the  Argives ;  dis- 
honour not  thou  their  petition  nor  their  journey  hither ;  though 
erst  it  were  no  wrong  that  thou  wast  wroth.  Even  in  like 
manner  have  we  heard  the  fame  of  those  heroes  that  were  of 
old,  as  oft  as  furious  anger  came  on  any;  they  might  be  won 
by  gifts  and  prevailed  upon  by  speech.  This  tale  have  I  in 
mind  of  old  time  and  not  of  yesterday,  even  as  it  was ;  and  I 
will  tell  it  among  you  that  all  are  friends.  The  Kuretes'  fought 
and  the  staunch  Aitolians  about  the  city  of  Kalydon,  and  slew 
one  another,  the  Aitolians  defending  lovely  Kalydon,  the  Ku- 
retes  eager  to  lay  it  waste  in  war.  For  Artemis  of  the  golden 
throne  had  brought  a  plague  upon  them,  in  wrath  that  Oineus 
offered  her  not  the  harvest  first-fruits  on  the  fat  of  his  garden 
land ;  for  all  the  other  gods  had  their  feast  of  hecatombs,  and 
only  to  the  daughter  of  great  Zeus  offered  he  not,  whether 
he  forgat  or  marked  it  not ;  and  therein  sinned  he  sore  in  his 
heart.    So  the  Archer-goddess  was  wroth  and  sent  against  him 

^  Oineus  the  AitoHan  King  of  Kalydon  having  wedded  Althaia 
daughter  of  Thestias  King  of  the  Kuretes,  the  two  peoples  combined 
to  slay  the  wild  boar  that  ravaged  Kalydon,  but  fell  out  over  the 
spoils;  for  Meleagros,  son  of  Oineus,  wished  to  give  them  to 
Atalanta,  who  helped  in  the  chase.  But  the  sons  of  Thestias,  in- 
dignant, had  taken  them  from  her ;  for  which  Meleagros  slew  them, 
and  was  therefore  cursed  by  his  mother  Althaia,  their  sister. 


172  HOMER 

a  creature  of  heaven,  a  fierce  wild  boar,  white-tusked,  that 
wrought  sore  ill  continually  on  Oineus'  garden  land;  many  a 
tall  tree  laid  low  utterly,  even  root  and  apple  blossom  there- 
with. But  him  slew  Meleagros  the  son  of  Oineus,  having 
gathered  together  from  many  cities  huntsmen  and  hounds; 
for  not  of  few  men  could  the  boar  be  slain,  so  mighty  was  he ; 
and  many  an  one  brought  he  to  the  grievous  pyre.  But  the 
goddess  made  much  turmoil  over  him  and  tumult  concerning 
the  boar's  head  and  shaggy  hide,  between  the  Kuretes  and 
great-hearted  Aitolians.  Now  so  long  as  Meleagros  dear  to 
Ares  fought,  so  long  it  went  ill  with  the  Kuretes,  neither  dared 
they  face  him  without  their  city  walls,  for  all  they  were  very 
many.  But  when  Meleagros  grew  full  of  wrath,  such  as 
swelleth  the  hearts  of  others  likewise  in  their  breasts,  though 
they  be  wise  of  mind,  then  in  anger  of  heart  at  his  dear  mother 
Althaia  he  tarried  beside  his  wedded  wife,  fair  Kleopatra, 
daughter  of  Marpessa  fair-ankled  daughter  of  Euenos,  and  of 
Idas  that  was  strongest  of  men  that  were  then  upon  the  earth ; 
he  it  was  that  took  the  bow  to  face  the  king  Phoebus  Apollo 
for  sake  of  the  fair-ankled  damsel.*  And  she  was  called  Alky- 
one  of  her  father  and  lady  mother  by  surname  in  their  hall, 
because  her  mother  in  the  plight  of  the  plaintive  halcyon-bird 
wept  when  the  far-darter  Phoebus  Apollo  snatched  her  away. 
By  her  side  lay  Meleagros,  brooding  on  his  grievous  anger, 
being  wroth  by  reason  of  his  mother's  curses :  for  she,  grieved 
for  her  brethren's  death,  prayed  instantly  to  the  gods,  and  with 
her  hands  likewise  beat  instantly  upon  the  fertile  earth,  calling 
on  Hades  and  dread  Persephone,  while  she  knelt  upon  her  knees 
and  made  her  bosom  wet  with  tears,  to  bring  her  son  to  death ; 
and  Erinnys  that  walketh  in  darkness,  whose  heart  knoweth 
not  ruth,  heard  her  from  Erebos.  Now  was  the  din  of  foemen 
about  their  gates  quickly  risen,  and  a  noise  of  battering  of 
towers;  and  the  elders  of  the  Aitolians  sent  the  best  of  the 

•  Idas  son  of  Aphareus  carried  off  Marpessa  from  her  father 
Euenos ;  and  Apollo  wished  to  take  her  from  Idas.  So  the  two  came 
to  fighting,  until  Zeus  separated  them,  and  bade  Marpessa  choose 
which  she  would  have.  And  she  chose  the  mortal,  fearing  least  the 
god  should  prove  faithless. 


THE   ILL\D— BOOK    IX  .     173 

gods'  priests  and  besought  him  to  come  forth  and  save  them, 
with  promise  of  a  mighty  gift;  to  wit,  they  bade  him,  where 
the  plain  of  lovely  Kalydon  was  fattest,  to  choose  him  out  a 
fair  demesne  of  fifty  plough-gates,  the  half  thereof  vine-land 
and  the  half  open  plough-land,  to  be  cut  from  out  the 
plain.  And  old  knightly  Oineus  prayed  him  instantly,  and 
stood  upon  the  threshold  of  his  high-roofed  chamber,  and 
shook  the  mortised  doors  to  beseech  his  son ;  him  too  his  sisters 
and  his  lady  mother  prayed  instantly — ^but  he  denied  them  yet 
more — instantly  too  his  comrades  prayed,  that  were  nearest 
him  and  dearest  of  all  men.  Yet  even  so  persuaded  they  not 
his  heart  within  his  breast,  until  his  chamber  was  now  hotly 
battered  and  the  Kuretes  were  climbing  upon  the  towers  and 
firing  the  great  city.  Then  did  his  fair-girdled  wife  pray 
Meleagros  with  lamentation,  and  told  him  all  the  woes  that 
come  on  men  whose  city  is  taken ;  the  warriors  are  slain,  and 
the  city  is  wasted  of  fire,  and  the  children  and  the  deep- 
girdled  women  are  led  captive  of  strangers.  And  his  soul  was 
stirred  to  hear  the  grievous  tale,  and  he  went  his  way  and 
donned  his  glittering  armour.  So  he  saved  the  Aitolians  from 
the  evil  day,  obeying  his  own  will ;  but  they  paid  him  not  now 
the  gifts  many  and  gracious ;  yet  nevertheless  he  drave  away 
destruction.  But  be  not  thine  heart  thus  minded,  neither  let 
heaven  so  guide  thee,  dear  son ;  that  were  a  hard  thing,  to  save 
the  ships  already  burning.  Nay,  come  for  the  gifts ;  the  Acha- 
ians  shall  honour  thee  even  as  a  god.  But  if  without  gifts 
thou  enter  into  battle  the  bane  of  men,  thou  wilt  not  be  held  in 
like  honour,  even  though  thou  avert  the  fray." 

And  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  made  answer  and  said  to  him: 
"Phoinix  my  father,  thou  old  man  fosterling  of  Zeus,  such 
honour  need  I  in  no  wise;  for  I  deem  that  I  have  been  hon- 
oured by  the  judgment  of  Zeus,  which  shall  abide  upon  me  amid 
my  beaked  ships  as  long  as  breath  tarrieth  in  my  body  and  my 
limbs  are  strong.  Moreover  I  will  say  this  thing  to  thee  and 
lay  thou  it  to  thine  heart ;  trouble  not  my  soul  by  weeping  and 
lamentation,  to  do  the  pleasure  of  warrior  Atreides;  neither 
beseemeth  it  thee  to  cherish  him,  lest  thou  be  hated  of  me  that 
cherish  thee.  It  were  good  that  thou  with  me  shouldest  vex 
him  that  vexeth  me.     Be  thou  king  even  as  I,  and  share  my 


174  HOMER 

sway  by  halves,  but  these  shall  bear  my  message.  So  tarry 
thou  here  and  lay  thee  to  rest  in  a  soft  bed,  and  with  break  of 
day  will  we  consider  whether  to  depart  unto  our  own,  or  to 
abide." 

He  spake,  and  nodded  his  brow  in  silence  unto  Patroklos  to 
spread  for  Phoinix  a  thick  couch,  that  the  others  might  be- 
think them  to  depart  from  the  hut  with  speed.  Then  spake  to 
tliem  Aias,  Telamon's  godlike  son,  and  said :  "Heaven-sprung 
son  of  Laertes,  Odysseus  of  many  wiles,  let  us  go  hence ;  for 
methinks  the  purpose  of  our  charge  will  not  by  this  journey  be 
accomplished ;  and  we  must  tell  the  news,  though  it  be  no  wise 
good,  with  all  speed  unto  the  Danaans,  that  now  sit  awaiting. 
But  Achilles  hath  wrought  his  proud  soul  to  fury  within  him — 
stubborn  man,  that  recketh  naught  of  his  comrades'  love, 
wherein  we  worshipped  him  beyond  all  men  amid  the  ships — 
unmerciful!  Yet  doth  a  man  accept  recompense  of  his  broth- 
er's murderer  or  for  his  dead  son;  and  so  the  man-slayer  for 
a  great  price  abideth  in  his  own  land,  and  the  kinsman's  heart 
is  appeased,  and  his  proud  soul,  when  he  hath  taken  the  rec- 
ompense. But  for  thee,  the  gods  have  put  within  thy  breast  a 
spirit  implacable  and  evil,  by  reason  of  one  single  damsel. 
And  now  we  ofifer  thee  seven  damsels,  far  best  of  all,  and  many 
other  gifts  besides;  entertain  thou  then  a  kindly  spirit,  and 
have  respect  unto  thine  home;  because  we  are  guests  of  thy 
roof,  sent  of  the  multitude  of  Danaans,  and  we  would  fain  be 
nearest  to  thee  and  dearest  beyond  all  other  Achaians,  as  many 
as  there  be." 

And  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  made  answer  and  said  to  him : 
"Aias  sprung  of  Zeus,  thou  son  of  Telamon,  prince  of  the 
folk,  thou  seemest  to  speak  all  this  almost  after  mine  own 
mind;  but  my  heart  swelleth  with  wrath  as  oft  as  I  bethink  me 
of  those  things,  how  Atreides  entreated  me  arrogantly  among 
the  Argives,  as  though  I  were  some  worthless  sojourner.  But 
go  ye  and  declare  my  message;  I  will  not  take  thought  of 
bloody  war  until  that  wise  Priam's  son,  noble  Hector,  come 
to  the  Myrmidons'  huts  and  ships,  slaying  the  Argives,  and 
smirch  the  ships  with  fire.  But  about  mine  hut  and  black  ship 
I  ween  that  Hector,  though  he  be  very  eager  for  battle,  shall 
be  refrained." 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   IX  175 

So  said  he,  and  they  took  each  man  a  two-handled  cup,  and 
made  Hbation  and  went  back  along  the  line  of  ships;  and 
Odysseus  led  the  way.  And  Patroklos  bade  his  fellows  and 
handmaidens  spread  with  all  speed  a  thick  couch  for  Phoinix ; 
and  they  obeyed  and  spread  a  couch  as  he  ordained,  fleeces 
and  rugs  and  fine  flock  of  linen.  Then  the  old  man  laid  him 
down  and  tarried  for  bright  Dawn.  And  Achilles  slept  in  the 
corner  of  the  mortised  hut,  and  by  his  side  lay  a  woman  that  he 
brought  from  Lesbos,  even  Phorbas'  daughter  fair-cheeked 
Diomede.  And  on  the  other  side  Patroklos  lay,  and  by  his 
side  likewise  fair-girdled  Iphis,  whom  noble  Achilles  gave  him 
at  the  taking  of  steep  Skyros,  the  city  of  Enyeus. 

Now  when  those  were  come  unto  Atreides'  huts,  the  sons 
of  the  Achaians  stood  up  on  this  side  and  on  that,  and  pledged 
them  in  cups  of  gold,  and  questioned  them;  and  Agamemnon 
king  of  men  asked  them  first :  "Come  now,  tell  me,  Odysseus 
full  of  praise,  thou  great  glory  of  the  Achaians ;  will  he  save 
the  ships  from  consuming  fire,  or  said  he  nay,  and  hath  wrath 
yet  hold  of  his  proud  spirit?" 

And  steadfast  goodly  Odysseus  answered  him:  "Most 
noble  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  he  yonder  hath 
no  mind  to  quench  his  wrath,  but  is  yet  more  filled  of  fury, 
and  spurneth  thee  and  thy  gifts.  He  biddeth  thee  take  counsel 
for  thyself  amid  the  Argives,  how  to  save  the  ships  and  folk 
of  the  Achaians.  And  for  himself  he  threateneth  that  at  break 
of  day  he  will  launch  upon  the  sea  his  trim  well-benched  ships. 
Moreover  he  said  that  he  would  counsel  all  to  sail  for  home, 
because  ye  now  shall  never  reach  your  goal  of  steep  Ilios; 
surely  far-seeing  Zeus  holdeth  his  hand  over  her  and  her 
folk  are  of  good  courage.  Even  so  said  he,  and  here  are  also 
these  to  tell  the  tale  that  were  my  companions,  Aias  and  the 
two  heralds,  both  men  discreet.  But  the  old  man  Phoinix  laid 
him  there  to  rest,  even  as  Achilles  bade  him,  that  he  may 
follow  with  him  on  his  ships  to  his  dear  native  land  to-morrow, 
if  he  will ;  for  he  will  not  take  him  perforce." 

So  said  he,  and  they  all  held  their  peace  and  were  still, 
marvelling  at  his  saying,  for  he  harangued  very  vehemently. 
Long  were  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  voiceless  for  grief,  but  at 
the  last  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  spake  amid  them :  "Most 


176  HOMER 

noble  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  would  thou 
hadst  never  besought  Peleus'  glorious  son  with  offer  of  gifts 
innumerable ;  proud  is  he  at  any  time,  but  now  hast  thou  yet  far 
more  encouraged  him  in  his  haughtiness,  Howbcit  we  will  let 
him  bide,  whether  he  go  or  tarry;  hereafter  he  shall  fight, 
whenever  his  heart  within  him  biddeth  and  god  arouseth  him. 
Come  now,  even  as  I  shall  say  let  us  all  obey.  Go  ye  now  to 
rest,  full  to  your  hearts'  desire  of  meat  and  wine,  wherein 
courage  is  and  strength;  but  when  fair  rosy-fingered  Dawn 
appeareth,  array  thou  with  all  speed  before  the  ships  thy  folk 
and  horsemen,  and  urge  them  on;  and  fight  thyself  amid  the 
foremost." 

So  said  he,  and  all  the  princes  gave  assent,  applauding  the 
saying  of  Diomedes  tamer  of  horses.  And  then  they  made 
libation  and  went  every  man  to  his  hut,  and  there  laid  them  to 
rest  and  took  the  boon  of  sleep. 


BOOK  X 

How  Diomedes  and  Odysseus  slew  Dolon,  a  spy  of  the  Trojans, 
and  themselves  spied  on  the  Trojan  camp,  and  took  the  horses  of 
Rhesos,  the  Thracian  king. 

Now  beside  the  ships  the  other  leaders  of  the  whole  Acha- 
ian  host  were  sleeping  all  night  long,  by  soft  Sleep  overcome, 
but  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus,  shepherd  of  the  host,  sweet 
Sleep  held  not,  so  many  things  he  debated  in  his  mind.  And 
even  as  when  the  lord  of  fair-tressed  Hera  lighteneth,  fashion- 
ing either  a  mighty  rain  unspeakable,  or  hail,  or  snow,  when 
the  flakes  sprinkle  all  the  ploughed  lands,  or  fashioning  per- 
chance the  wide  mouth  of  bitter  war,  even  so  oft  in  his  breast 
groaned  Agamemnon,  from  the  very  deep  of  his  heart,  and 
his  spirits  trembled  within  him.  And  whensoever  he  looked 
toward  that  Trojan  plain,  he  marvelled  at  the  many  fires  that 
blazed  in  front  of  Ilios,  and  at  the  sound  of  flutes  and  pipes, 
and  the  noise  of  men ;  but  whensoever  to  the  ships  he  glanced 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    X  177 

and  the  host  of  the  Achaians,  then  rent  he  many  a  lock  clean 
forth  from  his  head,  to  Zeus  that  is  above,  and  greatly  groaned 
his  noble  heart. 

And  this  in  his  soul  seemed  to  him  the  best  counsel,  to  go 
first  of  all  to  Nestor  son  of  Neleus,  if  perchance  he  might 
contrive  with  him  some  right  device  that  should  be  for  the 
warding  off  of  evil  from  all  the  Danaans. 

Then  he  rose,  and  did  on  his  doublet  about  his  breast, 
and  beneath  his  shining  feet  he  bound  on  fair  sandals,  and 
thereafter  clad  him  in  the  tawny  skin  of  a  lion  fiery  and  great, 
a  skin  that  reached  to  the  feet,  and  he  grasped  his  spear. 

And  even  in  like  wise  did  trembling  fear  take  hold  on 
Menelaos,  (for  neither  on  his  eyelids  did  Sleep  settle  down), 
lest  somewhat  should  befall  the  Argives,  who  verily  for  his 
sake  over  wide  waters  were  come  to  Troy-land,  with  fierce 
war  in  their  thoughts. 

With  a  dappled  pard's  skin  first  he  covered  his  broad 
shoulders,  and  he  raised  and  set  on  his  head  a  casque  of  bronze, 
and  took  a  spear  in  his  strong  hand.  Then  went  he  on  his 
way  to  rouse  his  brother,  that  mightily  ruled  over  all  the 
Argives,  and  as  a  god  was  honoured  by  the  people.  Him 
found  he  harnessing  his  goodly  gear  about  his  shoulders,  by 
the  stern  of  the  ship,  and  glad  to  his  brother  was  his  coming. 
Then  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  first  accosted  him: 
"Wherefore  thus,  dear  brother,  art  thou  arming?  Wilt  thou 
speed  forth  any  of  thy  comrades  to  spy  on  the  Trojans  ?  Nay, 
terribly  I  fear  lest  none  should  undertake  for  thee  this  deed, 
even  to  go  and  spy  out  the  f oemen  alone  through  the  ambrosial 
night;  needs  must  he  be  a  man  right  hardy  of  heart." 

Then  the  lord  Agamemnon  answered  him  and  spake: 
"Need  of  good  counsel  have  I  and  thou,  Menelaos  foster- 
ling of  Zeus,  of  counsel  that  will  help  and  save  the  Argives  and 
the  ships,  since  the  heart  of  Zeus  hath  turned  again.  Surely 
on  the  sacrifices  of  Hector  hath  he  set  his  heart  rather  than 
on  ours.  For  never  did  I  see,  nor  heard  any  tell,  that  one  man 
devised  so  many  terrible  deeds  in  one  day,  as  Hector,  dear 
to  Zeus,  hath  wrought  on  the  sons  of  the  Achaians,  unaided ; 
though  no  dear  son  of  a  goddess  is  he,  nor  of  a  god.  He  hath 
done  deeds  that  methinks  will  be  a  sorrow  to  the  Argives, 


178  HOMER 

lasting  and  long,  such  evils  hath  he  devised  against  the  Acha- 
ians.  But  go  now,  run  swiftly  by  the  ships,  and  summon  Aias 
and  Idomeneus,  but  I  will  betake  me  to  noble  Nestor,  and  bid 
him  arise,  if  perchance  he  will  be  fain  to  go  to  the  sacred 
company  of  the  sentinels,  and  lay  on  them  his  command.  For 
to  him  above  others  would  they  listen,  for  his  own  son  is  chief 
among  the  sentinels,  he  and  the  brother  in  arms  of  Ido- 
meneus, even  Meriones,  for  to  them  above  all  we  entrusted 
this  charge." 

Then  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  answered  him :  "How 
meanest  thou  this  word  wherewith  thou  dost  command  and 
exhort  me?  Am  I  to  abide  there  with  them,  waiting  till  thou 
comest,  or  run  back  again  to  thee  when  I  have  well  delivered 
to  them  thy  commandment?" 

Then  the  king  of  men,  Agamemnon,  answered  him  again: 
"There  do  thou  abide  lest  we  miss  each  other  as  we  go,  for 
many  are  the  paths  through  the  camp.  But  call  aloud,  where- 
soever thou  goest,  and  bid  men  awake,  naming  each  man  by 
his  lineage,  and  his  father's  name,  and  giving  all  their  dues 
of  honour,  nor  be  thou  proud  of  heart.  Nay  rather  let  us 
ourselves  be  labouring,  for  even  thus  did  Zeus  from  our  very 
birth  dispense  to  us  the  heaviness  of  toil." 

So  he  spake,  and  sent  his  brother  away,  having  clearly 
laid  on  him  his  commandment.  Then  went  he  himself  after 
Nestor,  the  shepherd  of  the  host,  whom  he  found  by  his  hut 
and  black  ship,  in  his  soft  bed:  beside  him  lay  his  fair  dight 
arms,  a  shield,  and  two  spears,  and  a  shining  helmet.  Beside 
him  lay  his  glittering  girdle  wherewith  the  old  man  was  wont 
to  gird  himself  when  he  harnessed  him  for  war,  the  bane  of 
men,  and  led  on  the  host,  for  he  yielded  not  to  grievous  old 
age.  Then  he  raised  him  on  his  elbow,  lifting  his  head,  and 
spake  to  the  son  of  Atreus,  inquiring  of  him  with  this  word : 
"Who  art  thou  that  farest  alone  by  the  ships,  through  the 
camp,  in  the  dark  night,  when  other  mortals  are  sleeping? 
Seekest  thou  one  of  thy  mules,  or  of  thy  comrades?  speak, 
and  come  not  silently  upon  me.    What  need  hast  thou  ?" 

Then  the  king  of  men,  Agamemnon,  answered  him:  "O 
Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  great  glory  of  the  Achaians,  thou  shalt 
know  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus,  whom  above  all  men  Zeus 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   X  179 

hath  planted  for  ever  among  labours,  while  my  breath  abides 
within  my  breast,  and  my  knees  move.  I  wander  thus,  for 
that  sweet  sleep  rests  not  on  mine  eyes,  but  war  is  my  care, 
and  the  troubles  of  the  Achaians.  Yea,  greatly  I  fear  for  the 
sake  of  the  Danaans,  nor  is  my  heart  firm,  but  I  am  tossed 
to  and  fro,  and  my  heart  is  leaping  from  my  breast,  and  my 
good  knees  tremble  beneath  me.  But  if  thou  wilt  do  aught, 
since  neither  on  thee  cometh  sleep,  let  us  go  thither  to  the 
sentinels,  that  we  may  see  them,  lest  they  be  fordone  with 
toil  and  drowsihead,  and  so  are  slumbering,  and  have  quite 
forgotten  to  keep  watch.  And  hostile  men  camp  hard  by, 
nor  know  we  at  all  but  that  they  are  keen  to  do  battle  in  the 
night." 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  him:  "Most 
renowned  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  assuredly 
not  all  his  designs  will  wise-counselling  Zeus  fulfil  for  Hector, 
even  all  that  now  he  thinketh;  nay  methinks  he  will  contend 
with  even  more  troubles  if  but  Achilles  turn  back  his  heart 
from  grievous  anger.  And  verily  will  I  follow  after  thee,  but 
let  us  also  rouse  others  again,  both  the  son  of  Tydeus,  spear- 
man renowned,  and  Odysseus,  and  swift  Aias,  and  the  strong 
son  of  Phyleus.  But  well  it  would  be  if  one  were  to  go  and 
call  those  also,  the  godlike  Aias,  and  Idomeneus  the  prince; 
for  their  ships  are  furthest  of  all,  and  nowise  close  at  hand. 
But  Menelaos  will  I  blame,  dear  as  he  is  and  worshipful,  yea, 
even  if  thou  be  angry  with  me,  nor  will  I  hide  my  thought, 
for  that  he  slumbereth,  and  to  thee  alone  hath  left  the  toil; 
now  should  he  be  toiling  among  all  the  chiefs  and  beseeching 
them,  for  need  no  longer  tolerable  is  coming  upon  us." 

And  the  king  of  men,  Agamemnon,  answered  him  again : 
"Old  man,  another  day  I  even  bid  thee  blame  him,  for  often 
is  he  slack,  and  willeth  not  to  labour,  yielding  neither  to 
unreadiness  nor  heedlessness  of  heart,  but  looking  toward 
me,  and  expecting  mine  instance.  But  as  now  he  awoke  far 
before  me,  and  came  to  me,  and  him  I  sent  forward  to  call 
those  concerning  whom  thou  inquirest.  But  let  us  be  gone, 
and  them  shall  we  find  before  the  gates,  among  the  sentinels, 
for  there  I  bade  them  gather." 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  him:     "So 


180  HOMER 

will  none  of  the  Argives  be  wroth  with  him  or  disobey  him, 
whensoever  he  doth  urge  any  one,  and  give  him  his  commands." 

So  spake  he  and  did  on  his  doublet  about  his  breast,  and 
beneath  his  bright  feet  he  bound  goodly  shoon,  and  all  around 
him  buckled  a  purple  cloak,  with  double  folds  and  wide,  and 
thick  down  all  over  it. 

And  he  took  a  strong  spear,  pointed  with  sharp  bronze, 
and  he  went  among  the  ships  of  the  mail-clad  Achaians.  Then 
Odyesseus  first,  the  peer  of  Zeus  in  counsel,  did  knightly 
Gerenian  Nestor  arouse  out  of  sleep,  with  his  voice,  and 
quickly  the  cry  came  all  about  his  heart,  and  he  came  forth 
from  the  hut  and  spake  to  them  saying:  "Wherefore  thus 
among  the  ships  and  through  the  camp  do  ye  wander  alone, 
in  the  ambrosial  night ;  what  so  great  need  cometh  upon  you  ?" 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  him:  "Laertes 
son,  of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  Odysseus  of  many  a  wile,  be  not 
wroth,  for  great  trouble  besetteth  the  Achaians.  Nay  follow, 
that  we  may  arouse  others  too,  even  all  that  it  behoveth  to  take 
counsel,  whether  we  should  fly,  or  fight." 

So  spake  he,  and  Odysseus  of  the  many  counsels  came  to 
the  hut,  and  cast  a  shield  bedight  about  his  shoulders,  and 
went  after  them. 

And  they  went  to  seek  Diomedes,  son  of  Tydeus,  and  him 
they  found  outside  his  hut,  with  his  arms,  and  around  him 
his  comrades  were  sleeping  with  their  shields  beneath  their 
heads,  but  their  spears  were  driven  into  the  ground  erect  on 
the  spikes  of  the  butts,  and  afar  shone  the  bronze,  like  the 
lightning  of  father  Zeus.  Now  that  hero  was  asleep,  and 
under  him  was  strewn  the  hide  of  an  ox  of  the  field,  but 
beneath  his  head  was  stretched  a  shining  carpet.  Beside  him 
went  and  stood  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  and  stirred  him 
with  a  touch  of  his  foot,  and  aroused  him,  chiding  him  to  his 
face,  saying :  "Wake,  son  of  Tydeus,  why  all  night  long  dost 
thou  sleep?  Knowest  thou  not  that  the  Trojans  on  the  high 
place  of  the  plain  are  camped  near  the  ships,  and  but  a  little 
space  holdeth  them  apart  ?" 

So  spake  he,  and  Diomedes  sprang  swiftly  up  out  of  sleep, 
and  spake  out  to  him  winged  words:  "Hard  art  thou,  old 
man,  and  from  toil  thou  never  ceasest.     Now  are  there  not 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   X  181 

other  younger  sons  of  the  Achaians,  who  might  rouse  when 
there  is  need  each  of  the  kings,  going  all  round  the  host?  but 
thou,  old  man,  art  indomitable." 

And  him  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  again, 
"Nay  verily,  my  son,  all  this  that  thou  sayest  is  according 
unto  right.  Noble  sons  have  I,  and  there  be  many  of  the 
host,  of  whom  each  man  might  go  and  call  the  others.  But 
a  right  great  need  hath  assailed  the  Achaians.  For  now 
to  all  of  us  it  standeth  on  a  razor's  edge,  either  pitiful  ruin 
for  the  Achaians,  or  life.  But  come  now,  if  indeed  thou 
dost  pity  me,  rouse  swift  Aias,  and  the  son  of  Phyleus,  for 
thou  art  3'ounger  than  I." 

So  spake  he,  and  Diomedes  cast  round  his  shoulders  the 
skin  of  a  great  fiery  lion,  that  reached  to  his  feet,  and  he 
grasped  his  spear,  and  started  on  his  way,  and  roused  the 
others  from  their  place  and  led  them  on. 

Now  when  they  had  come  among  the  assembled  sentinels, 
they  found  not  the  leaders  of  the  sentinels  asleep,  but  they  all 
sat  wide  awake  with  their  arms.  And  even  as  hounds  keep 
difficult  guard  round  the  sheep  in  a  fold,  having  heard  a 
hardy  wild  beast  that  cometh  through  the  wood  among  the 
hills,  and  much  clamour  riseth  round  him  of  hounds  and 
men,  and  sleep  perisheth  from  them,  even  so  sweet  sleep  did 
perish  from  their  eyes,  as  they  watched  through  the  wicked 
night,  for  ever  were  they  turning  toward  the  plains,  when  they 
heard  the  Trojans  moving. 

And  that  old  man  was  glad  when  he  saw  them,  and 
heartened  them  with  his  saying,  and  calling  out  to  them  he 
spake  winged  words:  "Even  so  now,  dear  children,  do  ye 
keep  watch,  nor  let  sleep  take  any  man,  lest  we  become  a 
cause  of  rejoicing  to  them  that  hate  us." 

So  saying  he  sped  through  the  moat,  and  they  followed 
with  him,  the  kings  of  the  Argives,  who  had  been  called  to 
the  council.  And  with  them  went  Meriones,  and  the  glorious 
son  of  Nestor,  for  they  called  them  to  share  their  counsel.  So 
they  went  clean  out  of  the  delved  foss,  and  sat  down  in  the 
open,  where  the  mid-space  was  clear  of  dead  men  fallen,  where 
fierce  Hector  had  turned  again  from  destroying  the  Argives, 
when  night  covered  all.    There  sat  they  down,  and  declared 


182  HOMER 

their  saying  each  to  the  other,  and  to  them  knightly  Nestor 
of  Gerenia  began  discourse :  "O  friends,  is  there  then  no  man 
that  would  trust  to  his  own  daring  spirit,  to  go  among  the 
great-hearted  Trojans,  if  perchance  he  might  take  some  strag- 
gler of  the  enemy,  yea,  or  hear  perchance  some  rumour 
among  the  Trojans,  and  what  things  they  devise  among  them- 
selves, whether  they  are  fain  to  abide  there  by  the  ships,  away 
from  the  city,  or  will  retreat  again  to  the  city,  now  that  they 
have  conquered  the  Achaians?  All  this  might  such  an  one 
learn,  and  back  to  us  come  scathless :  great  would  be  his  fame 
under  heaven  among  all  men,  and  a  goodly  gift  will  be  given 
him.  For  all  the  best  men  that  bear  sway  by  the  ships,  each 
and  all  of  them  will  give  him  a  black  ewe,  with  her  lamb  at 
her  foot, — no  chattel  may  compare  with  her, — and  ever  will 
he  be  present  at  feasts  and  clan-drinkings." 

So  spake  he,  and  thereon  were  they  all  silent,  holding 
their  peace,  but  to  them  spake  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry : 
"Nestor,  my  heart  and  manful  spirit  urge  me  to  enter  the 
camp  of  the  foemen  hard  by,  even  of  the  Trojans :  but  and  if 
some  other  man  will  follow  with  me,  more  comfort  and  more 
courage  will  there  be.  If  two  go  together,  one  before  another 
perceiveth  a  matter,  how  there  may  be  gain  therein;  but  if 
one  alone  perceive  aught,  even  so  his  wit  is  shorter,  and  weak 
his  device." 

So  spake  he,  and  many  were  they  that  wished  to  follow 
Diomedes.  The  two  Aiantes  were  willing,  men  of  Ares'  com- 
pany, and  Meriones  was  willing,  and  right  willing  the  son  of 
Nestor,  and  the  son  of  Atreus,  Menelaos,  spearman  renowned, 
yea  and  the  hardy  Odysseus  was  willing  to  steal  into  the 
throng  of  Trojans,  for  always  daring  was  his  heart  within 
him.  But  among  them  spake  the  king  of  men,  Agamemnon: 
"Diomedes  son  of  Tydeus,  joy  of  mine  heart,  thy  comrade 
verily  shalt  thou  choose,  whomsoever  thou  wilt,  the  best  of 
them  that  be  here,  for  many  are  eager.  But  do  not  thou,  out 
of  reverent  heart,  leave  the  better  man  behind,  and  give  thy- 
self the  worse  companion,  yielding  to  regard  for  any,  and 
looking  to  their  lineage,  even  if  one  be  more  kingly  bom." 

So  spake  he,  but  was  in  fear  for  the  sake  of  fair-haired 
Menelaos.     But  to  them  again  answered  Diomedes  of  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   X  183 

loud  war-cry:  "If  indeed  ye  bid  me  choose  myself  a  com- 
rade, how  then  could  I  be  unmindful  of  godlike  Odysseus, 
whose  heart  is  passing  eager,  and  his  spirit  so  manful  in 
all  manner  of  toils ;  and  Pallas  Athene  loveth  him.  But  while 
he  cometh  with  me,  even  out  of  burning  fire  might  we  both 
return,  for  he  excelleth  in  understanding." 

Then  him  again  answered  the  steadfast  noble  Odysseus : 
"Son  of  Tydeus,  praise  me  not  overmuch,  neither  blame  me 
aught,  for  thou  speakest  thus  among  the  Argives  that  them- 
selves know  all.  But  let  us  be  going,  for  truly  the  night  is 
waning,  and  near  is  the  dawn^  and  the  stars  have  gone  onward, 
and  the  night  has  advanced  more  than  two  watches,  but  the 
third  watch  is  yet  left." 

So  spake  they  and  harnessed  them  in  their  dread  armour. 
To  the  son  of  Tydeus  did  Thrasymedes  steadfast  in  war  give 
a  two-edged  sword,  (for  his  own  was  left  by  his  ship)  and 
a  shield,  and  about  his  head  set  a  helm  of  bull's  hide,  without 
cone  or  crest,  that  is  called  a  skull-cap,  and  keeps  the  heads 
of  stalwart  youths.  And  Meriones  gave  Odysseus  a  bow  and 
a  quiver,  and  a  sword,  and  on  his  head  set  a  helm  made  of 
leather,  and  with  many  a  throng  was  it  stiffly  wrought  within, 
while  without  the  white  teeth  of  a  boar  of  flashing  tusks  were 
arrayed  thick  set  on  either  side,  well  and  cunningly,  and  in  the 
midst  was  fixed  a  cap  of  felt.  This  casque  Autolykos  once 
stole  from  Amyntor  son  of  Ormenos,  out  of  Eleon,  breaking 
into  his  well-builded  house;  and  he  gave  it  to  Amphidamas 
of  Kythera  to  take  to  Skandeia  and  Amphidamas  gave  it  for 
a  guest-gift  to  Molos,  who  gave  it  to  his  own  son  Meriones 
to  wear,  and  now  it  was  set  to  cover  the  head  of  Odysseus. 

So  when  these  twain  had  harnessed  them  in  their  dread 
armour,  they  set  forth  to  go,  and  left  there  all  the  best  of 
the  host.  And  to  them  did  Pallas  Athene  send  forth  an  omen 
on  the  right,  a  heron  hard  by  the  way,  and  they  beheld  it 
not  with  their  eyes,  through  the  dark  night,  but  they  heart  its 
shrill  cry.  And  Odysseus  was  glad  in  the  omen  of  the  bird, 
and  prayed  to  Athene:  "Listen  to  me,  thou  child  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus  that  ever  in  all  toils  dost  stand  by  me,  nor  doth 
any  motion  of  mine  escape  thee :  but  now  again  above  all  the 
thou  friendly  to  me,  Athene,  and  grant  that  we  come  back 


184  HOMER 

with  renown  to  the  ships,  having  wrought  a  great  work,  that 
shall  be  sorrow  to  the  Trojans." 

Next  again  prayed  Dioraedes  of  the  loud  war-cry :  "Listen 
now  likewise  to  me,  thou  child  of  Zeus,  unwearied  maiden, 
and  follow  with  me  as  when  with  my  father  thou  didst  follow, 
even  noble  Tydeus,  into  Thebes,  when  he  went  forth  as  a  mes- 
senger from  the  Achaians.  And  them  he  left  by  the  Asopos, 
the  mail-clad  Achaians,  and  a  honeyed  word  he  bare  to  the 
Kadmeians  in  that  place ;  but  on  his  backward  way  he  devised 
right  terrible  deeds,  with  thee,  fair  goddess,  for  eager  didst 
thou  stand  by  him.  Even  so  now  stand  thou  by  me  willingly, 
and  protect  me.  And  to  thee  will  I  sacrifice  a  yearling  heifer, 
broad  of  brow,  unbroken,  that  never  yet  hath  man  led  below 
the  yoke.  Her  will  I  sacrifice  to  thee,  and  gild  her  horns 
with  gold." 

So  spake  they  in  their  prayer,  and  Pallas  Athene  heard 
them.  And  when  they  had  prayed  to  the  daughter  of  mighty 
Zeus,  the»y  went  forth  on  their  way,  like  two  lions,  through 
the  dark  night,  amid  the  slaughter,  amid  the  slain  men,  through 
the  arms  and  the  black  blood. 

Nay,  nor  the  stout-hearted  Trojans  did  Hector  suffer  to 
sleep,  but  he  called  together  all  the  best  of  them,  all  that  were 
chiefs  and  leaders  of  the  Trojans,  them  did  he  call  together, 
and  contrived  a  crafty  counsel:  "Who  is  there  that  would 
promise  and  perform  for  me  this  deed,  for  a  great  gift?  yea 
his  reward  shall  be  sufficient.  For  I  will  give  him  a  chariot, 
and  two  horses  of  arching  neck,  the  best  that  be  at  the  swift 
ships  of  the  Achaians,  to  whosoever  shall  dare  the  deed,  and 
for  himself  shall  win  glory.  And  the  deed  is  this ;  to  go  near 
the  swift-faring  ships,  and  seek  out  whether  the  swift  ships 
are  guarded,  as  of  old,  or  whether  already,  being  subdued 
beneath  our  hands,  the  foes  are  devising  of  flight  among  them- 
selves, and  have  no  care  to  watch  through  the  night,  being 
fordone  with  dread  weariness." 

So  spake  he,  but  they  were  all  silent  and  held  their  peace. 
Now  there  was  among  the  Trojans  one  Dolon,  the  son  of 
Eumedes  the  godlike  herald,  and  he  was  rich  in  gold,  and 
rich  in  bronze:  and  verily  he  was  ill  favoured  to  look  upon, 
but  swift  of  foot;  now  he  was  an  only  son  among  five  sisters. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   X  185 

So  he  spake  then  a  word  to  the  Trojans  and  to  Hector : 
"Hector,  my  heart  and  manful  spirit  urge  me  to  go  near  the 
swift- faring  ships,  and  spy  out  all.  But  come  I  pray  thee, 
hold  up  the  stag,  and  swear  to  me,  that  verily  thou  wilt  give 
me  the  horses  and  the  chariots  bedight  with  bronze  that  bear 
the  noble  son  of  Peleus.  But  to  thee  I  will  prove  no  vain  spy, 
nor  disappoint  thy  hope.  For  I  will  go  straight  to  the  camp, 
until  I  may  come  to  the  ship  of  Agamemnon,  where  surely  the 
chiefs  are  like  to  hold  council,  whether  to  fight  or  flee." 

So  spake  he,  and  Hector  took  the  staflf  in  his  hand,  and 
sware  to  him:  "Now  let  Zeus  himself  be  witness,  the  loud- 
thundering  lord  of  Hera,  that  no  other  man  of  the  Trojans 
shall  mount  those  horses,  but  thou,  I  declare,  sl>alt  rejoice  in 
them  for  ever." 

So  spake  he,  and  sware  a  bootless  oath  thereto,  and  aroused 
Dolon  to  go.  And  straightway  he  cast  on  his  shoulders  his 
crooked  bow,  and  did  on  thereover  the  skin  of  a  grey  wolf, 
and  on  his  head  a  helm  of  ferret-skin,  and  took  a  sharp  javelin, 
and  went  on  his  way  to  the  ships  from  the  host.  But  he  was 
not  like  to  come  back  from  the  ships  and  bring  word  to 
Hector. 

But  when  he  had  left  the  throng  of  men  and  horses,  he 
went  forth  eagerly  on  the  way,  and  Odysseus  of  the  seed  of 
Zeus  was  ware  of  him  as  he  approached,  and  said  unto  Dio- 
medes :  "Lo,  here  is  some  man,  Diomedes,  coming  from  the 
camp,  I  know  not  whether  as  a  spy  to  our  ships,  or  to  strip 
certain  of  the  dead  men  fallen.  But  let  us  suffer  him  to  pass 
by  us  a  little  way  on  the  plain,  and  thereafter  may  we  rush  on 
him  and  take  him  speedily,  and  if  it  chance  that  he  outrun  us  by 
speed  of  foot,  ever  do  thou  hem  him  in  towards  the  ships  and 
away  from  the  camp,  rushing  on  him  with  thy  spear,  lest  in 
any  wise  he  escape  towards  the  city." 

So  they  spake,  and  turning  out  of  the  path  they  lay  down 
among  the  bodies  of  the  dead;  and  swiftly  Dolon  ran  past 
them  in  his  witlessness.  But  when  he  was  as  far  off  as  is 
the  length  of  the  furrow  made  by  mules,  (for  better  far  are 
they  than  kine,  to  drag  the  jointed  plough  through  the  deep 
fallow,)  these  twain  ran  after  him,  and  he  stood  still  when 
he  heard  the  sound,  supposing  in  his  heart  that  they  were 


186  HOMER 

friends  come  from  among  the  Trojans  to  turn  him  back,  at 
the  countermand  of  Hector.  But  when  they  were  about  a 
spear-cast  off,  or  even  less,  he  knew  them  for  foemen,  and 
stirred  his  swift  limbs  to  fly,  and  speedily  they  started  in 
pursuit. 

And  as  when  two  sharp-toothed  hounds,  well  skilled  in 
the  chase,  press  ever  hard  on  a  doe  or  a  hare  through  a  wooded 
land,  and  it  runs  screaming  before  tliem,  even  so  Tydeus'  son 
and  Odysseus  the  sacker  of  cities  cut  Dolon  off  from  the  host, 
and  ever  pursued  hard  after  him.  But  when  he  was  just 
about  to  come  among  the  sentinels,  in  his  flight  towards  the 
ships,  then  Athene  poured  strength  into  the  son  of  Tydeus, 
that  none  of  the  mail-clad  Achaians  might  bpast  himself  the 
first  to  smite,  and  he  come  second.  And  strong  Diomedes 
leaped  upon  him  with  the  spear,  and  said :  "  Stand,  or  I  shall 
overtake  thee  with  the  spear,  and  methinks  that  thou  shalt 
not  long  avoid  sheer  destruction  at  my  hand." 

So  spake  he,  and  threw  his  spear,  but  of  his  own  will  he 
missed  the  man,  and  passing  over  his  right  shoulder  the  point 
of  the  polished  spear  stuck  fast  in  the  ground :  and  Dolon 
stood  still,  in  great  dread  and  trembling,  and  the  teeth  chat- 
tered in  his  mouth,  and  he  was  green  with  fear.  Then  the 
twain  came  up  with  him,  panting,  and  gripped  his  hands,  and 
weeping  he  spake :  "Take  me  alive,  and  I  will  ransom  myself, 
for  within  our  house  there  is  bronze,  and  gold,  and  smithied 
iron,  wherefrom  my  father  would  do  you  grace  with  ransom 
untold,  if  he  should  learn  that  I  am  alive  among  the  ships  of 
the  Achaians." 

Then  Odysseus  of  the  many  counsels  answered  him  and 
said :  "Take  courage,  let  not  death  be  in  thy  mind,  but  come 
speak  and  tell  me  truly  all  the  tale,  why  thus  from  the  host 
dost  thou  come  all  alone  among  the  ships,  through  the  black 
night,  when  other  mortals  are  sleeping?  Comest  thou  to  strip 
certain  of  the  dead  men  fallen,  or  did  Hector  send  thee  forth 
to  spy  out  everything  at  the  hollow  ships,  or  did  thine  own 
spirit  urge  thee  on  ?" 

Then  Dolon  answered  him,  his  limbs  trembling  beneath 
him:  "With  many  a  blind  hope  did  Hector  lead  my  wits 
astray,  who  vowed  to  give  me  the  whole-hooved  horses  of  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   X  187 

proud  son  of  Peleus,  and  his  car  bedight  with  bronze :  and 
he  bade  me  fare  through  the  swift  black  night,  and  draw 
nigh  the  foemen,  and  seek  out  whether  the  swift  ships  are 
guarded,  as  of  old,  or  whether,  already,  being  subdued  beneath 
our  hands,  they  are  devising  of  flight  among  themselves,  and 
have  no  care  to  watch  through  the  night,  being  fordone  with 
dread  weariness." 

And  smiling  thereat  did  Odysseus  of  the  many  counsels 
make  him  answer:  "Verily  now  thy  soul  was  set  on  great 
rewards,  even  the  horses  of  the  wise  son  of  Aiakos,  but  hard 
are  they  for  mortal  men  to  master,  and  hard  to  drive,  for  any 
but  Achilles  only,  whom  a  deathless  mother  bare.  But  come, 
tell  me  all  this  truly,  all  the  tale:  where  when  thou  camest 
hither  didst  thou  leave  Hector,  shepherd  of  the  host,  and  where 
lie  his  warlike  gear,  and  where  his  horses?  And  how  are  dis- 
posed the  watches,  and  the  beds  of  the  other  Trojans?  And 
what  counsel  take  they  among  themselves;  are  they  fain  to 
abide  there  nigh  the  ships,  afar  from  the  city,  or  will  they 
return  to  the  city  again,  seeing  that  they  have  subdued  unto 
them  the  Achaians?" 

Then  Dolon  son  of  Eumedes  made  him  answer  again: 
"Lo,  now  all  these  things  will  I  recount  to  thee  most  truly. 
Hector  with  them  that  are  counsellors  holdeth  council  by 
the  barrow  of  godlike  Ilos,  apart  from  the  din,  but  as  for  the 
guards  whereof  thou  askest,  oh  hero,  no  chosen  watch  nor 
guard  keepeth  the  host.  As  for  all  the  watch  fires  of  the  Tro- 
jans— on  them  is  necessity,  so  that  they  watch  and  encourage 
each  other  to  keep  guard ;  but,  for  the  allies  called  from  many 
lands,  they  are  sleeping  and  to  the  Trojans  they  leave  it  to 
keep  watch,  for  no  wise  near  dwell  the  children  and  wives  of 
the  allies." 

Then  Odysseus  of  the  many  counsels  answered  him  and 
said :  "How  stands  it  now,  do  they  sleep  amidst  the  horse- 
taming  Trojans,  or  apart?  tell  me  clearly,  that  I  may  know." 

Then  answered  him  Dolon  son  of  Eumedes:  "Verily  all 
this  likewise  will  I  recount  to  thee  truly.  Towards  the  sea  lie 
the  Karians,  and  Paionians  of  the  bended  bow,  and  the  Leleges 
and  Kaukones,  and  noble  Pelasgoi.  And  towards  Thymbre 
the  Lykians  have  their  place,  and  the  haughty  Mysians,  and 


188  HOMER 

the  Phrygians  that  fight  from  chariots,  and  Maionians  lords 
of  chariots.  But  wherefore  do  ye  inquire  of  me  throughly 
concerning  all  these  things?  for  if  ye  desire  to  steal  into  the 
throng  of  Trojans,  lo,  there  be  those  Thracians,  new  comers, 
at  the  furthest  point  apart  from  the  rest,  and  among  them 
their  king  Rhesos,  son  of  Eioneus.  His  be  the  fairest  horses 
that  ever  I  beheld,  and  the  greatest,  whiter  than  snow,  and 
for  speed  like  the  winds.  And  his  chariot  is  fashioned  well 
with  gold  and  silver,  and  golden  is  his  armour  that  he  brought 
with  him,  marvellous,  a  wonder  to  behold ;  such  as  it  is  in  no 
wise  fit  for  mortal  men  to  bear,  but  for  the  deathless  gods. 
But  bring  me  now  to  the  swift  ships,  or  leave  me  here,  when 
ye  have  bound  me  with  a  ruthless  bond,  that  ye  may  go  and 
make  trial  of  me  whether  I  have  spoken  to  you  truth,  or  lies." 

Then  strong  Diomedes,  looking  grimly  on  him,  said: 
"Put  no  thought  of  escape,  Dolon,  in  thy  heart,  for  all  the 
good  tidings  thou  hast  brought,  since  once  thou  hast  come 
into  our  hands.  For  if  now  we  release  thee  or  let  thee  go, 
on  some  later  day  wilt  thou  come  to  the  swift  ships  of  the 
Achaians,  either  to  play  the  spy,  or  to  fight  in  open  war,  but 
if  subdued  beneath  my  hands  thou  lose  thy  life,  never  again 
wilt  thou  prove  a  bane  to  the  Argives." 

He  spake,  and  that  other  with  strong  hand  was  about  to 
touch  his  chin,  and  implore  his  mercy,  but  Diomedes  smote 
him  on  the  midst  of  the  neck,  rushing  on  him  with  the  sword, 
and  cut  through  both  the  sinews,  and  the  head  of  him  still 
speaking  was  mingled  with  the  dust.  And  they  stripped  him 
of  the  casque  of  ferret's  skin  from  oflF  his  head,  and  of  his 
wolf-skin,  and  his  bended  bow,  and  his  long  spear,  and  these 
to  Athene  the  Giver  of  Spoil  did  noble  Odysseus  hold  aloft 
in  his  hand,  and  he  prayed  and  spake  a  word:  "Rejoice,  O 
goddess,  in  these,  for  to  thee  first  of  all  the  Immortals  in 
Olympus  will  we  call  for  aid;  nay,  but  yet  again  send  us  on 
against  the  horses  and  the  sleeping  places  of  the  Thracian 
men." 

So  spake  he  aloud,  and  lifted  from  him  the  spoils  on  high, 
and  set  them  on  a  tamarisk  bush,  and  raised  thereon  a  mark 
right  plain  to  see,   gathering  together   reeds,   and   luxuriant 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   X  189 

shoots  of  tamarisk,  lest  they  should  miss  the  place  as  they 
returned  again  through  the  swift  dark  night. 

So  the  twain  went  forward  through  the  arms,  and  the 
black  blood,  and  quickly  they  came  to  the  company  of  Thracian 
men.  Now  they  were  slumbering,  fordone  with  toil,  but 
their  goodly  weapons  lay  by  them  on  the  ground,  all  orderly, 
in  three  rows,  and  by  each  man  his  pair  of  steeds.  And 
Rhesos  slept  in  the  midst,  and  beside  him  his  swift  horses 
were  bound  with  throngs  to  the  topmost  rim  of  the  chariot. 
Him  Odysseus  spied  from  afar,  and  showed  him  unto  Dio- 
medes,  this  is  the  man,  and  these  are  the  horses  whereof  Dolon 
that  we  slew  did  give  us  tidings.  But  come  now,  put  forth 
thy  great  strength ;  it  doth  not  behove  thee  to  stand  idle  with 
thy  weapons :  nay,  loose  the  horses ;  or  do  thou  slay  the  men, 
and  of  the  horses  will  I  take  heed." 

So  spake  he,  and  into  that  other  bright-eyed  Athene 
breathed  might,  and  he  began  slaying  on  this  side  and  on 
that,  and  hideously  went  up  their  groaning,  as  they  were 
smitten  with  the  sword,  and  the  earth  was  reddened  with 
blood.  And  like  as  a  lion  cometh  on  flocks  without  a  herds- 
man, on  goats  or  sheep,  and  leaps  upon  them  with  evil  will, 
so  set  the  son  of  Tydeus  on  the  men  of  Thrace,  till  he  had 
slain  twelve.  But  whomsoever  the  son  of  Tydeus  drew  near 
and  smote  with  the  sword,  him  did  Odysseus  of  the  many 
counsels  seize  by  the  foot  from  behind,  and  drag  him  out 
of  the  way,  with  this  design  in  his  heart,  that  the  fair-maned 
horses  might  lightly  issue  forth,  and  not  tremble  in  spirit, 
when  they  trod  over  the  dead;  for  they  were  not  yet  used  to 
dead  men.  But  when  the  son  of  Tydeus  came  upon  the  king, 
he  was  the  thirteenth  from  whom  he  took  sweet  life  away, 
as  he  was  breathing  hard,  for  an  evil  dream  stood  above  his 
head  that  night,  even  the  seed  of  Oineus,  through  the  device 
of  Athene.  Meanwhile  the  hardy  Odysseus  loosed  the  whole- 
hooved  horses,  and  bound  them  together  with  thongs,  and 
drave  them  out  of  the  press,  smiting  them  with  his  bow,  since 
he  had  not  taken  thought  to  lift  the  shining  whip  with  his 
hands  from  the  well-dight  chariot:  then  he  whistled  for  a 
sign  to  noble  Diomedes. 

But  Diomedes  stood  and  pondered  what  most  daring  deed 


190  HOMER 

he  might  do,  whether  he  should  take  the  chariot,  where  lay 
the  fair-dight  armour,  and  drag  it  out  by  the  pole,  or  lift  it 
upon  high,  and  so  bear  it  forth,  or  whether  he  should  take  the 
life  away  from  yet  more  of  the  Thracians.  And  while  he  was 
pondering  this  in  his  heart,  then  Athene  drew  near,  and  stood, 
and  spake  to  noble  Diomedes:  "Bethink  thee  of  returning, 
O  son  of  great-hearted  Tydeus,  to  the  hollow  ships,  lest  per- 
chance thou  come  thither  in  flight,  and  perchance  another  god 
rouse  up  the  Trojans  likewise." 

So  spake  she,  and  he  observed  the  voice  of  the  utterance 
of  the  goddess,  and  swiftly  he  sprang  upon  the  steeds,  and 
Odysseus  smote  them  with  his  bow,  and  they  sped  to  the 
swift  ships  of  the  Achaians. 

Nay,  nor  a  vain  watch  kept  Apollo  of  the  silver  bow,  when 
he  beheld  Athene  caring  for  the  son  of  Tydeus;  in  wrath 
against  her  he  stole  among  the  crowded  press  of  Trojans,  and 
aroused  a  counsellor  of  the  Thracians,  Hippokoon,  the  noble 
kinsman  of  Rhesos.  And  he  started  out  of  sleep,  when  he 
beheld  the  place  desolate  where  the  swift  horses  had  stood, 
and  beheld  the  men  gasping  in  the  death  struggle;  then  he 
groaned  aloud,  and  called  out  by  name  to  his  comrade  dear. 
And  a  clamour  arose  and  din  unspeakable  of  the  Trojans 
hasting  together,  and  they  marvelled  at  the  terrible  deeds,  even 
all  that  the  heroes  had  wrought,  and  had  gone  thereafter  to 
the  hollow  ships. 

But  when  those  others  came  to  the  place  where  they  had 
slain  the  spy  of  Hector,  there  Odysseus,  dear  to  Zeus,  checked 
the  swift  horses,  and  Tydeus'  son,  leaping  to  the  ground,  set 
the  bloody  spoil  in  the  hands  of  Odysseus,  and  again  mounted, 
and  lashed  the  horses,  and  they  sped  onward  nothing  loth 
to  the  hollow  ships,  for  there  they  fain  would  be.  But  Nestor 
first  heard  the  sound,  and  said :  "O  friends,  leaders  and  coun- 
sellors of  the  Argives,  shall  I  be  wrong  or  speak  sooth?  for 
my  heart  bids  me  speak.  The  sound  of  swift-footed  horses 
strikes  upon  mine  ears.  Would  to  god  that  Odysseus  and  that 
strong  Diomedes  may  even  instantly  be  driving  the  whole- 
hooved  horses  from  among  the  Trojans;  but  terribly  I  fear 
in  mine  heart  lest  the  bravest  of  the  Argives  suffer  aught 
through  the  Trojans'  battle-din." 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   X  191 

Not  yet  was  his  whole  word  spoken,  when  they  came  them- 
selves, and  leaped  down  to  earth,  but  gladly  the  others  wel- 
comed them  with  hand-clasping,  and  with  honeyed  words.  And 
first  did  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  make  question:  "Come, 
tell  me  now,  renowned  Odysseus,  great  glory  of  the  Achaians, 
how  ye  twain  took  those  horses?  Was  it  by  stealing  into  the 
press  of  Trojans?  Or  did  some  god  meet  you,  and  give  you 
them?  Wondrous  like  are  they  to  rays  of  the  sun.  Ever 
with  the  Trojans  do  I  mix  in  fight,  nor  methinks  do  I  tarry 
by  the  ships,  old  warrior  as  I  am.  But  never  yet  saw  I  such 
horses,  nor  deemed  of  such.  Nor,  methinks  some  god  must 
have  encountered  you  and  given  you  these.  For  both  of  you 
doth  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  love,  and  the  maiden  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus,  bright-eyed  Athene." 

And  him  answered  Odysseus  of  the  many  counsels:  "O 
Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  great  glory  of  the  Achaians,  lightly 
could  a  god,  if  so  he  would,  give  even  better  steeds  than 
these,  for  the  gods  are  far  stronger  than  we.  But  as  for  these 
new  come  horses,  whereof,  old  man,  thou  askest  me,  they  are 
Thracian,  but  their  lord  did  brave  Diomedes  slay,  and  beside 
him  all  the  twelve  best  men  of  his  company.  The  thirteenth 
man  was  a  spy  we  took  near  the  ships,  one  that  Hector  and 
the  other  haughty  Trojans  sent  forth  to  pry  upon  our  camp." 

So  spake  he,  and  drave  the  whole-hooved  horses  through 
the  fosse,  laughing;  and  the  other  Achaians  went  with  him 
joyfully.  But  when  they  had  come  to  the  well-built  hut  of 
the  son  of  Tydeus,  they  bound  the  horses  with  well-cut  thongs, 
at  the  mangers  where  the  swift  horses  of  Diomedes  stood  eat- 
ing honey-sweet  barley. 

And  Odysseus  placed  the  bloody  spoils  of  Dolon  in  the 
stern  of  the  ship,  that  they  might  make  ready  a  sacred  offering 
to  Athene.  But  for  themselves,  they  went  into  the  sea,  and 
washed  ofif  the  thick  sweat  from  shins,  and  neck,  and  thighs. 
But  when  the  wave  of  the  sea  had  washed  the  thick  sweat 
from  their  skin,  and  their  hearts  revived  again,  they  went 
into  polished  baths,  and  were  cleansed. 

And  when  they  had  washed,  and  anointed  them  with  olive  oil, 
they  sat  down  at  supper,  and  from  the  full  mixing  bowl  they 
drew  off  the  honey-sweet  wine,  and  poured  it  forth  to  Athene. 


192  HOMER 


BOOK  XI 

Despite  the  glorious  deeds  of  Agamemnon,  the  Trojans  press 
hard  on  the  Achaians,  and  the  beginning  of  evil  comes  on  Patroklos. 

Now  Dawn  arose  from  her  couch  beside  proud  Tithonos, 
to  bring  light  to  the  Immortals  and  to  mortal  men.  But 
Zeus  sent  forth  fierce  Discord  unto  the  fleet  ships  of  the 
Achaians,  and  in  her  hands  she  held  the  signal  of  war.  And 
she  stood  upon  the  huge  black  ship  of  Odysseus,  that  was 
in  the  midst,  to  make  her  voice  heard  on  either  side,  both 
to  the  huts  of  Aias,  son  of  Telamon,  and  to  the  huts  of 
Achilles,  for  these  twain,  trusting  in  their  valour  and  the 
might  of  their  hands,  had  drawn  up  their  trim  ships  at  the 
two  ends  of  the  line.  There  stood  the  goddess  and  cried 
shrilly  in  a  great  voice  and  terrible,  and  mighty  strength  she 
set  in  the  heart  of  each  of  the  Achaians,  to  war  and  fight 
unceasingly.  And  straightway  to  them  war  grew  sweeter  than 
to  depart  in  the  hollow  ships  to  their  dear  native  land. 

Then  the  son  of  Atreus  cried  aloud,  and  bade  the  Argives 
arm  them,  and  himself  amid  them  did  on  the  flashing  bronze. 
First  he  fastened  fair  greaves  about  his  legs,  fitted  with  ankle- 
clasps  of  silver;  next  again  he  did  his  breastplate  about  his 
breast,  the  breastplate  that  in  time  past  Kinyras  gave  him  for 
a  guest-gift.  For  afar  In  Cyprus  did  Kinyras  hear  the  mighty 
rumour  how  that  the  Achaians  were  about  to  sail  forth  to 
Troy  in  their  ships,  wherefore  did  Kinyras  give  him  the 
breastplate,  to  do  pleasure  to  the  king.  Now  therein  were  ten 
courses  of  black  cyanus,  and  twelve  of  gold,  and  twenty  of  tin, 
and  dark  blue  snakes  writhed  up  towards  the  neck,  three  on 
either  side,  like  rainbows  that  the  son  of  Kronos  hath  set  in 
the  clouds,  a  marvel  of  the  mortal  tribes  of  men.  And  round 
his  shoulders  he  cast  his  sword,  wherein  shone  studs  of  gold, 
but  the  scabbard  about  it  was  silver,  fitted  with  golden  chains. 
And  he  took  the  richly-dight  shield  of  his  valour  that  covereth 
all  the  body  of  a  man,  a  fair  shield,  and  round  about  it  were 
ten  circles  of  bronze,  and  thereon  were  twenty  white  bosses  of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  193 

tin,  and  one  in  the  midst  of  black  cyanus.  And  thereon  was 
embossed  the  Gorgon  fell  of  aspect  glaring  terribly,  and  about 
her  were  Dread  and  Terror.  And  from  the  shield  was  hung 
a  baldric  of  silver,  and  thereon  was  curled  a  snake  of  cyanus ; 
three  heads  interlaced  had  he,  growing  out  of  one  neck.  And 
on  his  head  Agamemnon  set  a  two-crested  helm  with  four-fold 
plate,  and  plume  of  horse-hair,  and  terribly  the  crest  nodded 
from  above.  And  he  grasped  two  strong  spears,  shod  with 
bronze  and  keen,  and  far  forth  from  him  into  the  heaven  shone 
the  bronze ;  and  thereat  Hera  and  Athene  thundered,  honouring 
the  king  of  Mykene  rich  in  gold. 

Then  each  man  gave  in  charge  his  horses  to  his  char- 
ioteer, to  hold  them  in  by  the  fosse,  well  and  orderly,  and 
themselves  as  heavy  men  at  arms  were  hasting  about,  being 
harnessed  in  their  gear,  and  unquenchable  the  cry  arose  Into 
the  Dawn.  And  long  before  the  charioteers  were  they  arrayed 
at  the  fosse,  but  after  them  a  little  way  came  up  the  drivers. 
And  among  them  the  son  of  Kronos  aroused  an  evil  din,  and 
from  above  rained  down  dew  dank  with  blood  out  of  the  upper 
air,  for  that  he  was  about  to  send  many  strong  men  down  to 
Hades. 

But  the  Trojans  on  the  other  side,  on  the  high  ground 
of  the  plain,  gathered  them  around  great  Hector,  and  noble 
Polydamas,  and  Ainelas  that  as  a  god  was  honoured  by  the 
people  of  the  Trojans,  and  the  three  sons  of  Antenor,  Poly- 
bos,  and  noble  Agenor,  and  young  Akamas  like  unto  the 
Immortals.  And  Hector  In  the  foremost  rank  bare  the  circle 
of  his  shield.  And  as  from  amid  the  clouds  appeareth  glit- 
tering a  baneful  star,  and  then  again  sinketh  within  the 
shadowy  clouds,  even  so  Hector  would  now  appear  among  the 
foremost  ranks,  and  again  would  be  giving  command  In  the 
rear,  and  all  In  bronze  he  shone,  like  the  lightning  of  aegis- 
bearing  father  Zeus. 

And  even  as  when  reapers  over  against  each  other  drive 
their  swaths  through  a  rich  man's  field  of  wheat  or  barley, 
and  thick  fall,  the  handfuls,  even  so  the  Trojans  and  Achaians 
leaped  upon  each  other,  destroying,  and  neither  side  took 
thought  of  ruinous  flight;  and  equal  heads  had  the  battle, 
and  they  rushed  on  like  wolves.    And  woeful  Discord  was  glad 


194  HOMER 

at  the  sight,  for  she  alone  of  the  gods  was  with  them  in  the 
war;  for  the  other  gods  were  not  beside  them,  but  in  peace  they 
sat  within  their  halls,  where  the  goodly  mansion  of  each  was 
builded  in  the  folds  of  Olympus.  And  they  all  were  blaming 
the  son  of  Kronos,  lord  of  the  storm-cloud,  for  that  he  willed 
to  give  glory  to  the  Trojans.  But  of  them  took  the  father  no 
heed,  but  aloof  from  the  others  he  sat  apart,  glad  in  his  glory, 
looking  toward  the  city  of  the  Trojans,  and  the  ships  of  the 
Achaians,  and  the  glitter  of  bronze,  and  the  slayers  and  the 
slain. 

So  long  as  morning  was,  and  the  sacred  day  still  waxed, 
so  long  did  the  shafts  of  both  hosts  strike,  and  the  folk  fell, 
but  about  the  hour  when  a  woodman  maketh  ready  his  meal, 
in  the  dells  of  a  mountain,  when  he  hath  tired  his  hands  with 
felling  tall  trees,  and  weariness  cometh  on  his  soul,  and  desire 
of  sweet  food  taketh  his  heart,  even  then  the  Danaans  by 
their  valour  brake  the  battalions,  and  called  on  their  com- 
rades through  the  lines.  And  in  rushed  Agamemnon  first  of 
all,  and  slew  a  man,  even  Bienor,  shepherd  of  the  hosts,  first 
himself,  and  next  his  comrade  O'ileus,  the  charioteer.  He 
verily  leaped  from  the  chariot  and  stood  and  faced  Agamem- 
non, but  the  king  smote  the  brow  of  him  with  the  sharp 
spear  as  he  came  eagerly  on,  and  his  vizor  heavy  with  bronze 
held  not  off  the  spear,  but  through  vizor  and  bone  it  sped,  and 
the  brain  within  was  all  scattered,  and  so  was  Oileus  overcome 
despite  his  eagerness. 

And  them  did  Agamemnon  king  of  men  leave  in  that 
place,  with  their  breasts  gleaming,  when  he  had  stripped  them 
of  their  corslets,  and  he  went  on  to  destroy  Isos  and  Anti- 
phos,  two  sons  of  Priam,  one  born  in  wedlock,  the  other  a 
bastard,  and  both  were  in  one  chariot :  the  bastard  held  the 
reins,  but  renowned  Antiphos  was  fighting  by  him.  These 
twain  did  Achilles  on  the  spurs  of  Ida  once  bind  with  fresh 
withes,  taking  them  as  they  herded  the  sheep,  and  he  ran- 
somed them  for  a  price.  But  now  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus, 
of  the  wide  domain,  smote  Isos  on  the  breast,  above  the 
nipple,  with  his  spear,  but  Antiphos  he  struck  hard  by  the 
ear,  with  the  sword,  and  dashed  him  from  the  chariot.  Then 
made  he  haste,  and  stripped  from  them  their  goodly  harness. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  195 

well  knowing  who  they  were,  for  he  had  seen  them  before 
beside  the  fleet  ships  when  swift-footed  Achilles  led  them  from 
Ida.  And  as  a  lion  easily  crusheth  the  young  fawns  of  a 
swift  hind,  when  that  he  hath  seized  them  in  his  strong 
teeth,  and  hath  come  to  their  lair,  and  taketli  their  tender 
life  away, — and  the  hind,  even  if  she  chance  to  be  near  at 
hand,  cannot  help  them,  for  on  herself  too  cometh  dread  terror, 
and  swiftly  she  speedeth  through  the  thick  coppice  and  the 
woodland,  hasting  and  sweating  before  the  onslaught  of  the 
mighty  beast, — even  so  not  one  of  the  Trojans  did  avail  to 
save  them  from  their  bane,  but  themselves  were  fleeing  in  fear 
before  the  Argives. 

Next  took  he  Peisandros  and  Hippolochos,  steadfast  in 
fight.  These  were  sons  of  wise-hearted  Antimachos,  who 
chiefly  had  taken  the  gold  of  Alexandros,  goodly  gifts,  and 
therefore  never  would  consent  to  give  Helen  to  fair-haired 
Menelaos.  His  two  sons  then  lord  Agamemnon  took,  both 
being  in  one  car,  and  together  they  were  driving  the  swift 
steeds;  for  the  shining  reins  had  fallen  from  their  hands, 
and  the  horses  were  all  distraught  with  dread,  and  he  set 
on  against  them,  like  a  lion, — even  the  son  of  Atreus, — but 
from  their  chariot  the  twain  did  supplicate  him:  "Take  us 
alive,  O  son  of  Atreus,  and  receive  worthy  ransom,  for  in  the 
halls  of  Antimachos  lie  many  possessions,  bronze,  and  gold, 
and  smithied  iron ;  out  of  these  could  our  father  do  thee  grace 
with  ransom  past  telling,  if  he  heard  that  we  twain  were  alive 
by  the  ships  of  the  Achaians." 

So  did  the  twain  weeping  beseech  the  king  with  soft 
words,  but  they  heard  a  voice  wherein  was  no  softness  at 
all :  "If  indeed  ye  be  the  sons  of  wise  Antimachos,  who  once 
in  the  assembly  of  the  Trojans  bade  slay  Menelaos  there, 
when  he  came  on  an  embassy  with  godlike  Odysseus,  nor  ever 
let  him  return  to  the  Achaians,  now  verily  shall  ye  pay  the 
price  of  your  father's  foul  shame." 

He  spake  and  dashed  Peisandros  from  his  chariot  to  the 
earth,  smiting  him  with  the  spear  upon  the  breast,  and  he 
lay  supine  on  the  ground.  But  Hippolochos  rushed  away, 
and  him  too  he  smote  to  earth,  and  cut  off  his  arms  and  his 
neck  with  the  sword,  then  tossed  him  like  a  ball  of  stone  to 


196  HOMER 

roll  through  the  throng.  Then  left  he  them,  and  where  thick- 
est clashed  the  battaHons,  there  he  set  on,  and  with  him  all  the 
well-greaved  Achaians.  Footmen  kept  slaying  footmen  as  they 
were  driven  in  flight,  and  horsemen  slaying  horsemen  with 
the  sword,  and  from  beneath  them  rose  up  the  dust  from  the 
plain,  stirred  by  the  thundering  hooves  of  horses.  And  the 
lord  Agamemnon,  ever  slaying,  followed  after,  calling  on  the 
Argives.  And  as  when  ruinous  fire  falleth  on  dense  woodland, 
and  the  whirling  wind  beareth  it  everywhere,  and  the  thickets 
fall  utterly  before  it,  being  smitten  by  the  onset  of  the  fire, 
even  so  beneath  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus  fell  the  heads  of 
the  Trojans  as  they  fled;  and  many  strong-necked  horses  rat- 
tled empty  cars  along  the  highways  of  the  battle,  lacking 
their  noble  charioteers;  but  they  on  the  earth  were  lying,  far 
more  dear  to  the  vultures  than  to  their  wives. 

But  Hector  did  Zeus  draw  forth  from  the  darts  and  the 
dust,  from  the  man-slaying,  and  the  blood,  and  the  din,  and 
the  son  of  Atreus  followed  on,  crying  eagerly  to  the  Danaans. 
And  past  the  tomb  of  ancient  Ilos,  son  of  Dardanos,  across 
the  mid  plain,  past  the  place  of  the  wild  fig-tree  they  sped, 
making  for  the  city,  and  ever  the  son  of  Atreus  followed  shout- 
ing, and  his  invincible  hands  were  defiled  with  gore.  But 
when  they  were  come  to  the  Skaian  gates,  and  the  oak-tree, 
there  then  they  halted,  and  awaited  each  other.  But  some 
were  still  in  full  flight  through  the  mid  plain,  like  kine  that  a 
lion  hath  scattered,  coming  on  them  in  the  dead  of  night ;  all 
hath  he  scattered,  but  to  one  sheer  death  appeareth  instantly, 
and  he  breaketh  her  neck  first,  seizing  her  with  strong  teeth, 
and  thereafter  swalloweth  greedily  the  blood  and  all  the  guts ; 
even  so  lord  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus  followed  hard  on  the 
Trojans,  ever  slaying  the  hindmost  man,  and  they  were 
scattered  in  flight,  and  on  face  or  back  many  of  them  fell  from 
their  chariots  beneath  the  hands  of  Agamemnon,  for  mightily 
he  raged  with  the  spear.  But  when  he  was  now  about  coming 
below  the  city,  and  the  steep  wall,  then  did  the  father  of  men 
and  gods  sit  him  down  on  the  crests  of  many-fountained  Ida, 
from  heaven  descending,  with  the  thunderbolt  in  his  hands. 

Then  sent  he  forth  Iris  of  the  golden  wings,  to  bear 
his  word:     "Up  and  go,  swift  Iris,  and  tell  this  word  unto 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  197 

Hector:  So  long  as  he  sees  Agamemnon,  shepherd  of  the 
host,  raging  among  the  foremost  fighters,  and  ruining  the 
ranks  of  men,  so  long  let  him  hold  back,  but  bid  the  rest 
of  the  host  war  with  the  foe  in  strong  battle.  But  when,  or 
smitten  with  the  spear  or  wounded  with  arrow  shot,  Aga- 
memnon leapeth  into  his  chariot,  then  will  I  give  Hector 
strength  to  slay  till  he  come  even  "^o  the  well  timbered  ships, 
and  the  sun  go  down,  and  sacred  darkness  draw  on." 

So  spake  he,  and  wind- footed  swift  Iris  disobeyed  him 
not,  but  she  went  down  from  the  hills  of  Ida  to  sacred  Ilios, 
and  she  found  the  son  of  wise-hearted  Priam,  noble  Hector, 
standing  among  the  horses,  and  firm-bound  chariots,  and 
swift-footed  Iris  drew  near  and  spake  to  him:  "Hector,  son 
of  Priam,  peer  of  Zeus  in  counsel;  lo,  Zeus  the  father  hath 
sent  me  forth,  to  bear  thee  this  command :  So  long  as  thou 
seest  Agamemnon,  the  shepherd  of  the  host,  raging  among 
the  foremost  fighters,  and  ruining  the  ranks  of  men,  so  long 
hold  back  from  the  fight,  but  bid  the  rest  of  the  host  war 
with  the  foe  in  strong  battle.  But  when,  or  smitten  with  the 
spear  or  wounded  with  arrow  shot,  Agamemnon  leapeth  into 
his  chariot,  then  will  Zeus  give  thee  strength  to  slay  till  thou 
come  even  to  the  well-timbered  ships,  and  the  sun  go  down, 
and  sacred  darkness  draw  on." 

So  spake  swift-footed  Iris  and  departed,  but  Hector  with 
his  harness  leaped  from  the  chariot  to  the  ground,  and,  shak- 
ing his  sharp  spears  went  through  all  the  host,  stirring  up  his 
men  to  fight,  and  he  roused  the  dread  din  of  battle.  And  they 
wheeled  round,  and  stood  and  faced  the  Achaians,  while  the 
Argives  on  the  other  side  strengthened  their  battalions.  And 
battle  was  made  ready,  and  they  stood  over  against  each  other, 
and  Agamemnon  first  rushed  in,  being  eager  to  fight  far  in 
front  of  all. 

Tell  me  now,  ye  Muses  that  inhabit  mansions  in  Olympus, 
who  was  he  that  first  encountered  Agamemnon,  whether  of 
the  Trojans  themselves,  or  of  their  allies  renowned?  It  was 
Iphidamas,  son  of  Antenor,  great  and  mighty,  who  was  nur- 
tured In  Thrace  rich  of  soil,  the  mother  of  sheep,  and  Kisses 
his  mother's  father  reared  him  In  the  halls,  while  he  was  but 
a  little  child, — even  the  father  of  Theano  fair  of  face.     Then 


198  HOAIER 

when  he  came  to  the  measure  of  glorious  youth,  he  tried  to 
keep  him  there,  and  offered  him  his  own  daughter ;  but  a  bride- 
groom new  wed,  he  went  from  his  bridal  chamber  after  the 
tidings  of  the  coming  of  the  Achaians,  with  twelve  beaked 
ships  that  followed  after  him.  These  trim  ships  he  left  in 
Perkote,  but  himself  came  by  land  to  Ilios;  he  it  was  that 
then  encountered  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus.  And  when 
they  were  come  near  in  onset  against  each  other,  Atreus'  son 
missed,  and  his  spear  was  turned  aside,  but  Iphidamas  smote 
him  on  the  girdle,  below  the  corslet,  and  himself  pressed  on, 
trusting  to  his  heavy  hand,  but  pierced  not  the  gleaming  girdle, 
for  long  ere  that  the  point  struck  on  the  silver,  and  was  bent 
like  lead.  Then  wide-ruling  Agamemnon  caught  the  spear 
with  his  hand  and  drew  it  toward  him  furiously,  like  a  lion, 
and  snatched  it  out  of  the  hand  of  Iphidamas,  and  smote  his 
neck  with  the  sword,  and  unstrung  him  limbs.  So  even  there 
he  fell,  and  slept  a  sleep  of  bronze  most  piteously,  far  from  his 
wedded  wife,  helping  the  folk  of  the  city, — far  from  his  bride, 
of  whom  he  had  known  no  joy,  and  much  had  he  given  for 
her:  first  a  hundred  kine  he  gave,  and  thereafter  promised  a 
thousand,  goats  and  sheep  together,  whereof  he  had  herds 
unspeakable.  Then  did  Agamemnon  son  of  Atreus  strip  him, 
and  went  bearing  his  goodly  harness  into  the  throng  of  the 
Achaians. 

Now  when  Koon  beheld  him,  Koon  Antenor's  eldest  son, 
illustrious  among  men,  strong  sorrow  came  on  him,  covering 
his  eyes,  for  his  brother's  fall :  and  he  stood  on  one  side  with 
his  spear,  and  unmarked  of  noble  Agamemnon  smote  him  on 
the  mid-arm,  beneath  the  elbow,  and  clean  through  went  the 
point  of  the  shining  spear.  Then  Agamemnon  king  of  men 
shuddered,  yet  not  even  so  did  he  cease  from  battle  and  war, 
but  rushed  against  Koon,  grasping  his  wind-nurtured  spear. 
Verily  then  Koon  seized  right  lustily  by  the  foot  Iphidamas, 
his  brother,  and  his  father's  son,  and  called  to  all  the  best  of 
his  men;  but  him,  as  he  dragged  the  dead  through  the  press, 
beneath  his  bossy  shield  Agamemnon  wounded  with  a  bronze- 
shod  spear,  and  unstrung  his  limbs,  and  drew  near  and  cut 
off  his  head  over  Iphidamas.    There  the  sons  of  Antenor,  at 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XI  199 

the  hands  of  Agamemnon  the  king,  filled  up  the  measure  of 
their  fate,  and  went  down  within  the  house  of  Hades. 

But  Agamemnon  ranged  among  the  ranks  of  men,  with 
spear,  and  sword,  and  great  stones  for  throwing,  while  yet 
the  blood  welled  warm  from  his  wound.  But  when  the 
wound  waxed  dry,  and  the  blood  ceased  to  flow,  then  keen 
pangs  came  on  the  might  of  the  son  of  At  reus.  And  even 
as  when  the  keen  shaft  cometh  upon  a  woman  in  her  travail, 
the  piercing  shaft  that  the  goddesses  of  the  birth-pangs  send, 
even  the  Eilithyiai,  the  daughters  of  Hera  that  have  bitter 
pangs  in  their  gift,  even  so  keen  pains  sank  into  the  might 
of  the  son  of  Atreus.  Then  leaped  he  into  his  chariot,  and 
bade  his  charioteer  drive  to  the  hollow  ships,  for  he  was  sore 
vexed  at  heart.  And  he  called  in  a  piercing  voice,  and  shouted 
to  the  Danaans:  "O  friends,  leaders  and  counsellors  of  the 
Argives,  do  ye  now  ward  from  the  seafaring  ships  the  harsh 
din  of  battle,  for  Zeus  the  counsellor  suffers  me  not  all  day 
to  war  with  the  Trojans." 

So  spake  he,  and  his  charioteer  lashed  the  fair-maned  steeds 
toward  the  hollow  ships,  and  they  flew  onward  nothing  loth, 
and  their  breasts  were  covered  with  foam,  and  their  bellies 
were  stained  with  dust,  as  they  bore  the  wounded  king  away 
from  the  war. 

But  Hector,  when  he  beheld  Agamemnon  departed,  cried 
to  the  Trojans  and  Lykians  with  a  loud  shout :  "Ye  Trojans 
and  Lykians,  and  Dardanians  that  war  in  close  fight,  be  men, 
my  friends,  and  be  mindful  of  your  impetuous  valour.  The 
best  man  of  them  hath  departed  and  to  me  hath  Zeus,  the  son  of 
Kronos,  given  great  renown.  But  straightway  drive  ye  the 
whole-hooved  horses  against  the  mighty  Danaans,  that  ye  may 
be  the  masters  and  bear  away  the  higher  glory." 

So  spake  he,  and  aroused  the  might  and  spirit  of  every 
man.  And  even  as  when  some  hunter  tars  on  his  white-toothed 
hounds  against  a  boar  of  the  wild,  or  a  lion,  even  so  did  Hector, 
son  of  Priam,  like  unto  Ares  the  bane  of  men,  tar  on  the 
great-hearted  Trojans  against  the  Achaians.  Himself  with 
high  thoughts  he  fared  among  the  foremost,  and  fell  upon 
the  fight,  like  a  roaring  blast,  that  leapeth  down  and  stirreth 
the  violet-coloured  deep.      There  whom  first,  whom  last  did 


200  HOMER 

he  slay,  even  Hector,  son  of  Priam,  when  Zeus  vouchsafed  him 
renown  ? 

Asaios  first,  and  Autonoos,  and  Opites,  and  Dolops,  son 
of  Klytios,  and  Opheltios,  and  Agelaos,  and  Aisymnos,  and 
Oros,  and  Hipponoos  steadfast  in  the  fight;  these  leaders  of 
the  Danaans  he  slew,  and  thereafter  smote  the  multitude,  even 
as  when  the  West  Wind  driveth  the  clouds  of  the  white  South 
Wind,  smiting  with  deep  storm,  and  the  wave  swelleth  huge, 
rolling  onward,  and  the  spray  is  scattered  on  high  beneath  the 
rush  of  the  wandering  wind ;  even  so  many  heads  of  the  host 
were  smitten  by  Hector. 

There  had  ruin  begun,  and  deeds  remedeless  been  wrought, 
and  now  would  all  the  Achaians  have  fled  and  fallen  among 
the  ships,  if  Odysseus  had  not  called  to  Diomedes,  son  of 
Tydeus:  "Tydeus*  son,  what  ails  us  that  we  forget  our 
impetuous  valour?  Nay,  come  hither,  friend,  and  take  thy 
stand  by  me,  for  verily  it  will  be  shame  if  Hector  of  the 
glancing  helm  take  the  ships." 

And  to  him  strong  Diomedes  spake  in  answer:  "Verily 
will  I  abide  and  endure,  but  short  will  be  all  our  profit,  for 
Zeus,  the  cloud-gatherer,  clearly  desireth  to  give  victory  to 
the  Trojans  rather  than  to  us." 

He  spake,  and  drave  Thymbraios  from  his  chariot  to  the 
ground,  smiting  him  with  the  spear  in  the  left  breast,  and 
Odysseus  smote  Molion  the  god-like  squire  of  that  prince. 
These  then  they  let  be,  when  they  had  made  them  cease 
from  war,  and  then  the  twain  fared  through  the  crowd  with 
a  din,  as  when  two  boars  full  of  valour  fall  on  the  hunting 
hounds ;  so  rushed  they  on  again,  and  slew  the  Trojans,  while 
gladly  the  Achaians  took  breath  again  in  their  flight  from 
noble  Hector. 

There  took  they  a  chariot  and  two  of  the  best  men  of  the 
people,  two  sons  of  Merops  of  Perkote,  who  above  all  men 
was  skilled  in  soothsaying,  nor  would  he  suffer  his  children 
to  go  to  ruinous  war;  but  in  nowise  did  the  twain  obey  him, 
for  the  Fates  of  black  death  led  them  on.  Them  did  the 
son  of  Tydeus,  Diomedes,  spearman  renowned,  deprive  of 
life  and  spirit,  and  took  away  their  glorious  harness.  And 
Odysseus    stripped    Hippodamos    and    Hypeirochos.      Then 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK  XI  201 

Kronin  stretched  for  thjpm  the  line  of  battle  level,  as  he 
looked  down  from  Ida,  and  they  kept  slaying  each  other. 
Then  Tydeus'  son  smote  the  hero  Agastrophos,  son  of  Paion, 
on  the  hip-joint,  with  his  spear;  nor  were  his  horses  near, 
for  him  to  flee,  and  great  blindness  was  on  his  spirit ;  for  the 
squire  held  them  aloof,  but  on  foot  he  was  charging  through 
the  foremost  fighters,  till  he  lost  his  life.  But  Hector  quickly 
spied  them  among  the  ranks,  and  rushed  upon  them  shouting, 
and  with  him  followed  the  battahons  of  the  Trojans.  And 
beholding  him,  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  shuddered,  and 
straightway  spake  to  Odysseus  that  was  hard  by:  "Lo,  on 
us  this  ruin,  even  mighty  Hector,  is  rolling :  let  us  stand,  and 
await  him,  and  ward  oflf  his  onset." 

So  spake  he,  and  swayed  and  sent  forth  his  far-shadow- 
ing spear,  and  smote  him  nor  missed,  for  he  aimed  at  the  head, 
on  the  summit  of  the  crest,  and  bronze  by  bronze  was  turned, 
nor  reached  his  fair  flesh,  for  it  was  stopped  by  the  threefold 
helm  with  its  socket,  that  Phoebus  Apollo  to  Hector  gave. 
But  Hector  sprang  back  a  wondrous  way,  and  mingled  with 
the  throng,  and  he  rested,  fallen  on  his  knee,  and  leaned  on  the 
ground  with  his  stout  hand,  and  dark  night  veiled  his  eyes. 

But  while  Tydeus'  son  was  following  after  his  spear-cast, 
far  through  the  foremost  fighters,  where  he  saw  it  sink  into 
the  earth,  Hector  gat  breath  again,  and  leaping  back  into  his 
chariot  drave  out  into  the  throng,  and  avoided  black  Fate. 
Then  rushing  on  with  his  spear  mighty  Diomedes  spake  to 
him:  "Dog,  thou  art  now  again  escaped  from  death;  yet 
came  ill  very  nigh  thee;  but  now  hath  Phoebus  Apollo  saved 
thee,  to  whom  thou  must  surely  pray  when  thou  goest  amid 
the  clash  of  spears.  Verily  I  will  slay  thee  yet  when  I  meet 
thee  hereafter,  if  any  god  is  helper  of  me  too.  Now  will  I 
make  after  the  rest,  whomsoever  I  may  seize." 

So  spake  he,  and  stripped  the  son  of  Paeon,  spearman 
renowned.  But  Alexandros,  the  lord  of  fair-tressed  Helen, 
aimed  with  his  arrows  at  Tydeides,  shepherd  of  the  host; 
leaning  as  he  aimed  against  a  pillar  on  the  barrow,  by  men 
fashioned,  of  Ilos,  son  of  Dardanos,  an  elder  of  the  people 
in  time  gone  by.  Now  Diomedes  was  stripping  the  shining 
corslet  of  strong  Agastrophos  from  about  his  breast,  and  the 


202  HOMER 

shield  from  his  shoulders,  and  his  strong  helmet,  when  Paris 
drew  the  centre  of  his  bow ;  nor  vainly  did  the  shaft  fly  from 
his  hand,  for  he  smote  the  flat  of  the  right  foot  of  Diomedes, 
and  the  arrow  went  clean  through,  and  stood  fixed  in  the 
earth;  and  right  sweetly  laughing  Paris  leaped  up  from  his 
lair,  and  boasted,  and  said:  "Thou  art  smitten,  nor  vainly 
hath  the  dart  flown  forth;  would  that  I  had  smitten  thee  in 
the  nether  belly,  and  taken  thy  life  away.  So  should  the 
Trojans  have  breathed  again  from  their  trouble,  they  that 
shudder  at  thee,  as  bleating  goats  at  a  lion." 

But  him  answered  strong  Diomedes,  no  wise  dismayed: 
"Bowman,  reviler,  proud  in  thy  bow  of  horn,  thou  gaper 
after  girls,  verily  if  thou  madest  trial  in  full  harness,  man  to 
man,  thy  bow  and  showers  of  shafts  would  nothing  avail 
thee,  but  now  thou  boastest  vainly,  for  that  thou  hast  grazed 
the  sole  of  my  foot.  I  care  not,  more  than  if  a  woman  had 
struck  me  or  a  senseless  boy,  for  feeble  is  the  dart  of  a 
craven  man  and  a  worthless.  In  other  wise  from  my  hand, 
yea,  if  it  do  but  touch,  the  sharp  shaft  flieth,  and  straight- 
way layeth  low  its  man,  and  torn  are  the  cheeks  of  his  wife, 
and  fatherless  his  children,  and  he,  reddening  the  earth  with 
his  blood,  doth  rot  away,  more  birds  than  women  round  him." 

So  spake  he,  and  Odysseus,  spearman  renowned,  drew 
near,  and  stood  in  front  of  him,  and  Diomedes  sat  down 
behind  him,  and  drew  the  sharp  arrow  from  his  foot,  and  a 
sore  pang  passed  through  his  flesh.  Then  sprang  he  into  his 
car,  and  bade  his  charioteer  drive  back  to  the  hollow  ships, 
for  he  was  hurt  at  heart.  Then  Odysseus,  spearman  renowned, 
was  left  alone,  nor  did  one  of  the  Argives  abide  by  him,  for 
fear  had  fallen  on  them  all.  Then  in  heaviness  he  spoke  to 
his  own  great-hearted  spirit :  "Ah  me,  what  thing  shall  befall 
me!  A  great  evil  it  is  if  I  flee,  in  dread  of  the  throng;  yet 
worse  is  this,  if  I  be  taken  all  alone,  for  the  other  Danaans 
hath  Kronion  scattered  in  flight.  But  wherefore  doth  my 
heart  thus  converse  with  herself?  for  I  know  that  they  are 
cowards,  who  flee  the  flght,  but  whosoever  is  a  hero  in  war, 
him  it  mainly  behoves  to  stand  stubbornly,  whether  he  be 
smitten,  or  whether  he  smite  another." 

While  he  pondered  thus  in  heart  and  spirit,  the  rarife 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  203 

came  on  of  the  Trojans  under  shield,  and  hemmed  him  in 
the  midst,  setting  among  them  their  own  bane.  And  even  as 
when  hounds  and  young  men  in  their  bloom  press  round  a 
boar,  and  he  cometh  forth  from  his  deep  lair,  whetting  his 
white  tusk  between  chooked  jaws,  and  round  him  they  rush, 
and  the  sound  of  the  gnashing  of  tusks  ariseth,  and  straight- 
way they  await  his  assault,  so  dread  as  he  is,  even  so  then 
round  Odysseus,  dear  to  Zeus,  rushed  the  Trojans.  And  first 
he  wounded  noble  Dei'opites,  from  above,  in  the  shoulder, 
leaping  on  him  with  sharp  spear,  and  next  he  slew  Thoon  and 
Ennomos,  and  next  Chersidamas,  being  leapt  down  from  his 
chariot,  he  smote  with  the  spear  on  the  navel  beneath  the 
bossy  shield,  and  he  fell  in  the  dust  and  clutched  the  ground 
with  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  These  left  he,  and  wounded 
Charops,  son  of  Hippasos,  with  the  spear,  the  brother  of  high- 
born Sokos.  And  to  help  him  came  Sokos,  a  godlike  man, 
and  stood  hard  by  him,  and  spake  saying:  "O  renowned 
Odysseus,  insatiable  of  craft  and  toil,  to-day  shalt  thou  either 
boast  over  two  sons  of  Hippasos,  as  having  slain  two  such 
men  of  might,  and  stripped  their  harness,  or  smitten  by  my 
spear  shalt  lose  thy  life." 

So  spake  he,  and  smote  him  on  the  circle  of  his  shield; 
through  the  shining  shield  passed  the  strong  spear,  and 
through  the  fair-dight  corslet  it  was  thrust,  and  tore  clean 
off  the  flesh  of  the  flanks,  but  Pallas  Athene  did  not  suffer  it 
to  mingle  with  the  bowels  of  the  hero,  and  Odysseus  knew 
that  the  dart  had  in  nowise  lighted  on  a  deadly  spot,  and 
drawing  backward,  he  spake  unto  Sokos:  "Ah,  wretched 
one,  verily  sheer  destruction  is  come  upon  thee.  Surely  thou 
hast  made  me  to  cease  from  warring  among  the  Trojans,  but 
here  to  thee  I  declare  that  slaying  and  black  Fate  will  be  upon 
thee  this  day,  and  beneath  my  spear  overthrown  shalt  thou 
give  glory  to  me,  and  thy  soul  to  Hades  of  the  noble  steeds." 

He  spake,  and  the  other  turned,  and  started  to  flee,  and 
in  his  back  as  he  turned  he  fixed  the  spear,  between  the 
shoulders,  and  drave  it  through  the  breast.  Then  he  fell 
with  a  crash,  and  noble  Odysseus  boasted  over  him :  "Ah, 
Sokos,  son  of  wise-hearted  Hippasos  the  tamer  of  horses,  the 
end  of  death  hath  come  upon  and  caught  thee,  nor  hast  thou 


204  HOMER 

avoided.  Ah  wretch,  thy  father  and  lady  mother  shall  not 
close  thine  eyes  in  death,  but  birds  that  eat  flesh  raw  shall 
tear  thee,  shrouding  thee  in  the  multitude  of  their  wings.  But 
to  me,  if  I  die,  the  noble  Achaians  will  yet  give  due  burial." 

So  spake  he,  and  drew  the  mighty  spear  of  wise-hearted 
Sokos  forth  from  his  flesh,  and  from  his  bossy  shield,  and  his 
blood  flowed  forth  when  the  spear  was  drawn  away,  and 
afflicted  his  spirit.  And  the  great-hearted  Trojans  when  they 
beheld  the  blood  of  Odysseus,  with  clamour  through  the  throng- 
came  all  together  against  him.  But  he  gave  ground,  and 
shouted  unto  his  comrades :  thrice  he  shouted  then,  as  loud 
as  man's  mouth  might  cry,  and  thrice  did  Menelaos  dear  to 
Zeus  hear  his  call,  and  quickly  he  spake  to  Aias  that  was  hard 
by  him:  "Aias,  of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  child  of  Telamon,  lord 
of  the  hosts,  the  shout  of  Odysseus  of  the  hardy  heart  rings 
round  me,  like  as  though  the  Trojans  were  oppressing  him 
alone  among  them,  and  had  cut  him  off  in  the  strong  battle. 
Nay,  let  us  speed  into  the  throng,  for  better  it  is  to  rescue 
him.  I  fear  lest  he  suffer  some  evil,  being  alone  among  the 
Trojans,  so  brave  as  he  is,  and  lest  great  sorrow  for  his  loss 
come  upon  the  Danaans." 

So  spake  he,  and  led  the  way,  and  the  other  followed 
him,  a  godlike  man.  Then  found  they  Odysseus  dear  to 
Zeus,  and  the  Trojans  beset  him  like  tawny  jackals  from  the 
hills  round  a  wounded  horned  stag,  that  a  man  hath  smitten 
with  an  arrow  from  the  bow-string,  and  the  stag  hath  fled 
from  him  by  speed  of  foot,  as  long  as  the  blood  is  warm  and 
his  limbs  are  strong,  but  when  the  swift  arrow  hath  over- 
come him,  then  do  the  ravening  jackals  rend  him  in  the 
hills,  in  a  dark  wood,  and  then  god  leadeth  a  murderous  lion 
thither,  and  the  jackals  flee  before  him,  but  he  rendeth  them, 
so  then,  round  wise-hearted  Odysseus  of  the  crafty  counsels, 
did  the  Trojans  gather,  many  and  mighty,  but  that  hero  thrust- 
ing on  with  the  spear  held  off  the  pitiless  day.  Then  Aias 
drew  near,  bearing  his  shield  like  a  tower,  and  stood  thereby, 
and  the  Trojans  fled  from  him,  where  each  man  might.  Then 
warlike  Menelaos  led  Odysseus  out  of  the  press,  holding  him 
by  the  hand,  till  the  squire  drave  up  the  horses. 

Then  Aias  leaped  on  the  Trojans,  and  slew  Doryklos, 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  205 

bastard  son  of  Priam,  and  thereafter  wounded  he  Pandokos, 
and  he  wounded  Lysandros,  and  Pyrasos,  and  Pylartes.  And 
as  when  a  brimming  river  cometh  down  upon  the  plain,  in 
winter  flood  from  the  hills,  swollen  by  the  rain  of  Zeus,  and 
many  dry  oaks  and  many  pines  it  sucketh  in,  and  much  soil 
it  casteth  into  the  sea,  even  so  renowned  Aias  charged  them, 
pursuing  through  the  plain,  slaying  horses  and  men.  Nor 
wist  Hector  thereof  at  all,  for  he  was  fighting  on  the  left  of 
all  the  battle,  by  the  banks  of  the  river  Skamandros,  whereby 
chiefly  fell  the  heads  of  men,  and  an  unquenchable  cry  arose, 
around  great  Nestor  and  warlike  Idomeneus.  And  Hector 
with  them  was  warring,  and  terrible  things  did  he,  with  the 
spear  and  in  horsemanship,  and  he  ravaged  the  battalions  of 
the  young  men.  Nor  would  the  noble  Achaians  have  yet 
given  ground  from  the  path,  if  Alexandres,  the  lord  of  fair- 
tressed  Helen,  had  not  stayed  Machaon  shepherd  of  the  host 
in  his  valorous  deeds,  and  smitten  him  on  the  right  shoulder 
with  a  three-barbed  arrow.  Therefore  were  the  Achaians, 
breathing  valour,  in  great  fear,  lest  men  should  seize  Machaon 
in  the  turning  of  the  fight. 

Then  Idomeneus  spake  to  noble  Nestor:  "O  Nestor,  son 
of  Neleus,  great  glory  of  the  Achaians,  arise,  get  thee  up  into 
thy  chariot,  and  with  thee  let  Machaon  go,  and  swiftly  drive 
to  the  ships  the  whole-hooved  horses.  For  a  leech  is  worth 
many  other  men,  to  cut  out  arrows,  and  spread  soothing 
medicaments." 

So  spake  he,  nor  did  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  disobey 
him,  but  straightway  gat  up  into  his  chariot,  and  with  him 
went  Machaon,  son  of  Asklepios  the  good  leech,  and  he  lashed 
the  horses,  and  willingly  flew  they  forward  to  the  hollow  ships, 
where  they  desired  to  be. 

But  Kebriones,  the  charioteer  of  Hector,  beheld  the  Tro- 
jans driven  in  flight,  and  spake  to  him,  and  said:  "Hector, 
here  do  we  contend  with  the  Danaans,  at  the  limit  of  the  wail- 
ful war,  but,  lo,  the  other  Trojans  are  driven  in  flight  con- 
fusedly, men  and  horses.  And  Aias  son  of  Telamon  is  driv- 
ing them;  well  I  know  him,  for  wide  is  the  shield  round  his 
shoulders.  Nay,  let  us  too  urge  thither  the  horses  and  chariot, 
there  where  horsemen  and  footmen  thickest  in  the  forefront 


206  HOMER 

of  evil  strife  are  slaying  each  other,  and  the  cry  goes  up 
unquenchable." 

So  spake  he,  and  smote  the  fair-maned  horses  with  the 
shrill  sounding  whip,  and  they  felt  the  lash,  and  fleetly  bore 
the  swift  chariot  among  the  Trojans  and  Achaians,  treading 
on  the  dead,  and  the  shields,  and  with  blood  was  sprinkled 
all  the  axle-tree  beneath,  and  the  rims  round  the  car  with 
the  drops  from  the  hooves  of  the  horses,  and  with  drops  from 
the  tires  about  the  wheels.  And  Hector  was  eager  to  enter 
the  press  of  men,  and  to  leap  in  and  break  through,  and  evil 
din  of  battle  he  brought  among  the  Danaans,  and  brief  space 
rested  he  from  smiting  with  the  spear.  Nay,  but  he  ranged 
among  the  ranks  of  other  men,  with  spear,  and  sword,  and 
with  great  stones,  but  he  avoided  the  battle  of  Aias  son  of 
Telamon,  for  Zeus  would  have  been  wroth  with  him,  if  he 
fought  with  a  better  man  than  himself. 

Now  father  Zeus,  throned  in  the  highest,  roused  dread 
in  Aias,  and  he  stood  in  amaze,  and  cast  behind  him  his  seven- 
fold shield  of  bulls'  hide,  and  gazed  round  in  fear  upon  the 
throng,  like  a  wild  beast,  turning  this  way  and  that,  and  slowly 
retreating  step  by  step.  And  as  when  hounds  and  country 
folk  drive  a  tawny  lion  from  the  mid-fold  of  the  kine,  and 
suffer  him  not  to  carry  away  the  fattest  of  the  herd ;  all  night 
they  watch,  and  he  in  great  desire  for  the  flesh  maketh  his 
onset,  but  takes  nothing  thereby,  for  thick  the  darts  fly  from 
strong  hands  against  him,  and  the  burning  brands,  and  these 
he  dreads  for  all  his  fury,  and  in  the  dawn  he  departeth  with 
vexed  heart;  even  so  at  that  time  departed  Aias,  vexed  at 
heart,  from  among  the  Trojans,  right  unwillingly,  for  he 
feared  sore  for  the  ships  of  the  Achaians.  And  as  when  a 
lazy  ass  going  past  a  field  hath  the  better  of  the  boys  with 
him,  an  ass  that  hath  had  many  a  cudgel  broken  about  his 
sides,  and  he  fareth  into  the  deep  crop,  and  wasteth  it,  while 
the  boys  smite  him  with  cudgels,  and  feeble  is  the  force  of 
them,  but  yet  with  might  and  main  they  drive  him  forth,  when 
he  hath  had  his  fill  of  fodder,  even  so  did  the  high-hearted 
Trojans  and  allies,  called  from  many  lands,  smite  great  Aias. 
son  of  Telamon,  with  darts  on  the  centre  of  his  shield,  and 
ever  followed  after  him.    And  Aias  would  now  be  mindful  of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  207 

his  impetuous  valour,  and  turn  again,  and  hold  at  bay  the 
battalions  of  the  horse-taming  Trojans,  and  once  more  he 
would  turn  him  again  to  flee.  Yet  he  hindered  them  all  from 
making  their  way  to  the  fleet  ships,  and  himself  stood  and 
smote  between  the  Trojans  and  the  Achaians,  and  the  spears 
from  strong  hands  stuck  some  of  them  in  his  great  shield, 
fain  to  win  further,  and  many  or  ever  they  reached  his  white 
body  stood  fast  halfway  in  the  earth,  right  eager  to  sate 
themselves  with  his  flesh. 

But  when  Eurypylos,  the  glorious  son  of  Euaimon,  beheld 
him  oppressed  by  showers  of  darts,  he  went  and  took  his  stand 
by  him,  and  cast  with  his  shining  spear,  and  smote  Apisaon, 
son  of  Phausios,  shepherd  of  the  host,  in  the  liver,  below  the 
midrijff,  and  straightway  loosened  his  knees;  and  Eurypylos 
sprang  on  him,  and  stripped  the  harness  from  his  shoulders. 

But  when  godlike  Alexandros  beheld  him  stripping  the 
harness  from  Apisaon,  straightway  he  drew  his  bow  against 
Eurypylos,  and  smote  him  with  a  shaft  on  the  right  thigh, 
and  the  reed  of  the  shaft  brake,  and  weighed  down  the 
thigh.  Then  Eurypylos  withdrew  back  into  the  host  of  his 
comrades,  avoiding  fate,  and  with  a  piercing  voice  he  shouted 
to  the  Danaans:  "O  friends,  leaders  and  counsellors  of  the 
Argives,  turn  and  stand  and  ward  off  the  pitiless  day  from 
Aias,  that  is  oppressed  with  darts,  nor  methmks  will  he 
escape  out  of  the  evil  of  battle.  Nay,  stand  ye  the  rather 
at  bay  round  great  Aias,  son  of  Telamon." 

So  spake  Eurypylos  being  wounded,  and  they  stood  close 
together  beside  him,  sloping  the  shields  on  their  shoulders, 
and  holding  up  their  spears,  and  Aias  came  to  meet  them,  and 
turned  and  stood  when  he  reached  the  host  of  his  comrades. 

So  they  fought  like  unto  burning  fire. 

But  the  mares  of  Neleus  all  sweating  bare  Nestor  out  of 
the  battle,  and  also  carried  they  Machaon,  shepherd  of  the 
host.  Then  the  noble  Achilles,  swift  of  foot,  beheld  and 
was  ware  of  him,  for  Achilles  was  standing  by  the  stern  of 
his  great  ship,  watching  the  dire  toil,  and  the  woful  rout  of 
battle.  And  straightway  he  spake  to  his  own  comrade,  Patrok- 
los,  calling  to  him  from  beside  the  ship,  and  he  heard,  and 
from  the  hut  he  came,  like  unto  Ares;  and  this  to  him  was 


208  HOMER 

the  beginning  of  evil.  Then  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios  spake 
first  to  Achilles :  "Why  dost  thou  call  me,  Achilles,  what  need 
hast  thou  of  me?" 

Then  swift- footed  Achilles  answered  him  and  spake: 
"Noble  son  of  Menoitios,  dear  to  my  heart,  now  methinks 
that  the  Achaians  will  stand  in  prayer  about  my  knees,  for 
need  no  longer  tolerable  cometh  upon  them.  But  go  now, 
Patroklos  dear  to  Zeus,  and  ask  Nestor  who  is  this  that  he 
bringeth  wounded  from  the  war.  Verily  from  behind  he  is 
most  like  Machaon,  that  child  of  Asklepios,  but  I  beheld 
not  the  eyes  of  the  man,  for  the  horses  sped  past  me,  strain- 
ing forward  eagerly." 

So  spake  he,  and  Patroklos  obeyed  his  dear  comrade,  and 
started  and  ran  past  the  ships,  and  the  huts  of  the  Achaians. 

Now  when  they  came  to  the  hut  of  the  son  of  Neleus,  they 
lighted  down  on  the  bounteous  earth,  and  the  squire,  Eury- 
medon,  loosed  the  horses  of  that  old  man  from  the  car,  and 
they  dried  the  sweat  from  their  doublets,  standing  before  the 
breeze,  by  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  thereafter  came  they  to 
the  hut,  and  sat  them  down  on  chairs.  And  fair-tressed 
Hekamede  mixed  for  them  a  mess,  Hekamede  that  the  old 
man  won  from  Tenedos,  when  Achilles  sacked  It,  and  she  was 
the  daughter  of  great-hearted  Arsinoss,  and  her  the  Achaians 
chose  out  for  him,  because  always  in  counsel  he  excelled  them 
all.  First  she  drew  before  them  a  fair  table,  polished  well, 
with  feet  of  cyamus,  and  thereon  a  vessel  of  bronze,  with 
onion,  for  relish  to  the  drink,  and  pale  honey,  and  the  grain 
of  sacred  barley,  and  beside  It  a  right  goodly  cup,  that  the  old 
man  brought  from  home,  embossed  with  studs  of  gold,  and 
four  handles  there  were  to  it,  and  round  each  two  golden 
doves  were  feeding,  and  to  the  cup  were  two  feet  below. 
Another  man  could  scarce  have  lifted  the  cup  from  the  table, 
when  it  was  full,  but  Nestor  the  Old  raised  it  easily.  In 
this  cup  the  woman,  like  unto  the  goddesses,  mixed  a  mess 
for  them,  with  Pramnian  wine,  and  therein  grated  cheese  of 
goats'  milk,  with  a  grater  of  bronze,  and  scattered  white  barley 
thereover,  and  bade  them  drink,  whenas  she  had  made  ready 
the  mess. 

So  when  the  twain  had  drunk,  and  driven  away  parching 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  209 

thirst,  they  took  their  pleasure  in  discourse,  speaking  each  to 
the  other.  Now  Patroklos  stood  at  the  doors,  a  godHke  man, 
and  when  the  old  man  beheld  him,  he  arose  from  his  shining 
chair,  and  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  led  him  in,  and  bade  him 
be  seated.  But  Patroklos,  from  over  against  him,  was  for 
refusing,  and  spake  and  said:  "No  time  to  sit  have  I,  old 
man,  fosterling  of  Zeus,  nor  wilt  thou  persuade  me.  Revered 
and  dreaded  is  he  that  sent  me  forth  to  ask  thee  who  this  man 
is  that  thou  bringest  home  wounded.  Nay,  but  I  know  myself, 
for  I  see  Machaon,  shepherd  of  the  host.  And  now  will  I  go 
back  again,  a  messenger,  to  speak  a  word  to  Achilles.  And 
well  dost  thou  know,  old  man,  fosterling  of  Zeus,  how  ter- 
rible a  man  he  is;  lightly  would  he  blame  even  one  that  is 
blameless." 

Then  knightly  Nestor  of  Gerenia  answered  him  again: 
"Wherefore  is  Achilles  thus  sorry  for  the  sons  of  the  Achaians, 
for  as  many  as  are  wounded  with  darts?  He  knoweth  not 
at  all  what  grief  hath  arisen  in  the  camp :  for  the  best  men  lie 
in  the  ships,  wounded  by  shaft  or  smitten  by  spear.  Wounded 
with  the  shaft  is  strong  Diomedes,  son  of  Tyleus,  and  smitten 
is  Odysseus,  spearman  renowned,  and  Agamemnon,  and  Eury- 
pylos  hath  been  shot  with  an  arrow  in  the  thigh,  and 
this  other  have  I  but  newly  carried  out  of  battle,  wounded 
with  an  arrow  from  the  bowstring.  But  Achilles,  for  all  his 
valiance,  careth  not  for  the  Danaans,  nor  pities  them  at  all. 
Doth  he  wait  till  the  fleet  ships  hard  by  the  shore  shall  burn, 
maugre  the  Argives,  in  the  consuming  fire,  and  till  we  be 
slain  one  upon  another  ?  For  my  strength  is  no  longer  what  it 
was  before  in  my  supple  limbs.  Would  that  I  were  in  such 
youth,  and  my  might  as  steadfast,  as  when  a  strife  was  set 
between  the  Eleians  and  ourselves,  about  a  raid  on  the  kine; 
what  time  I  slew  Itymoneus,  the  brave  son  of  Hypeirochos,  a 
dweller  in  Elis,  when  I  was  driving  the  spoil.  And  in  fight- 
ing for  his  kine  was  he  smitten  in  the  foremost  rank  by  a 
spear  from  my  hand,  and  he  fell,  and  about  him  were  the 
country  folk  In  great  fear.  And  a  prey  exceeding  abundant 
did  we  drive  together  out  of  the  plain,  fifty  herds  of  kine, 
and  as  many  flocks  of  sheep,  and  as  many  droves  of  swine, 
and  as  many  wide  flocks  of  goats,  and  chestnut  horses  a  hun- 


210  HOMER 

dred  and  fifty,  all  mares,  and  many  with  their  foals  at  their 
feet.  And  these  by  night  we  drave  within  Neleian  Pylos  to  the 
citadel,  and  Neleus  was  glad  at  heart,  for  that  so  much  wealth 
came  to  me,  the  first  time  I  went  to  war.  And  the  heralds 
cried  aloud,  with  the  coming  of  the  dawn,  that  all  men  should 
meet  that  had  a  debt  owing  to  them  in  goodly  Elis.  And 
the  men  that  were  leaders  of  the  Pylians  gathered  together 
and  divided  all,  for  to  many  did  the  Epeians  owe  a  debt,  for 
few  we  were,  and  oppressed,  that  dwelt  in  Pylos.  For  the 
mighty  Herakles  had  come  and  oppressed  us,  in  the  former 
years,  and  all  our  best  men  were  slain.  For  twelve  sons  were 
we  of  noble  Neleus,  whereof  I  alone  was  left,  and  all  the 
others  perished.  And  being  lifted  up  with  pride  because  of 
these  things,  the  mail-clad  Epeians  did  us  despite,  and  devised 
deeds  and  violence.  And  out  of  the  spoil  that  old  man,  even 
Neleus,  took  him  a  herd  of  kine,  and  a  great  flock  of  sheep, 
choosing  three  hundred,  and  the  shepherds  with  them.  For 
to  him  was  a  great  debt  owing  in  goodly  Elis :  four  horses, 
winners  of  prizes,  with  their  chariot  had  gone  to  the  games, 
and  were  to  run  for  a  tripod;  but  these  did  Augeias,  king  of 
men,  hold  in  bond  in  that  place,  but  sent  away  the  driver  sor- 
rowing for  the  horses.  By  which  words  and  deeds  was  the 
old  man  angered,  so  he  chose  out  much  booty,  uncountable, 
and  the  rest  he  gave  to  the  people  to  divide,  lest  any  man 
should  depart  deprived  by  him  of  his  equal  share.  So  we 
ordered  each  thing,  and  ofifered  victims  to  the  gods  about  the 
city ;  and  on  the  third  day  all  the  Eleians  came  together,  many 
men  and  whole-hooved  horses  in  full  array,  and  with  them 
the  two  Moliones  in  their  harness,  being  still  but  lads,  nor 
yet  well  skilled  in  impetuous  valour.  Now  there  is  a  certain 
city,  Thryoessa,  a  steep  burg,  far  oflf  on  Alpheios,  the  uttermost 
city  of  sandy  Pylos,  round  this  they  pitched  their  camp,  being 
eager  to  raze  it  utterly.  But  when  they  had  passed  through 
all  the  plain,  to  us  came  Athene  by  night  rushing  down  from 
Olympus,  with  the  message  that  we  should  arm  us.  Nor 
were  the  folk  unwilling  that  she  gathered  in  Pylos,  but  right 
eager  for  war.  Now  Neleus  would  not  sufiFer  me  to  arm 
myself,  but  hid  my  horses  away,  for  he  deemed  that  I  knew 
naught  as  yet  of  the  deeds  of  war.    Yet  even  so  did  I  shine 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  211 

among  our  horsemen,  on  foot  though  I  was,  for  so  Athene 
led  the  fight.  There  is  a  river  Minyeios,  that  falleth  into  the 
sea  near  Arene,  where  the  horsemen  of  us  Pyhans  waited 
the  fair  dawn,  and  thither  those  ranks  of  footmen  flowed 
onward.  Thence  in  full  array,  and  harnessed  in  our  gear, 
we  came  at  midday  to  the  sacred  stream  of  Alpheios.  There 
to  Zeus  pre-eminent  in  might  we  sacrificed  goodly  victims, 
and  a  bull  to  Alpheios,  and  a  bull  to  Poseidon,  but  to  bright- 
eyed  Athene  a  heifer  of  the  herd,  and  thereafter  took  we 
supper  in  ranks  throughout  the  camp,  and  lay  down  to  sleep 
each  man  in  his  arms,  about  the  streams  of  the  river.  Now 
the  great-hearted  Epeians  were  gathered  round  the  citadel, 
being  eager  to  sack  it  utterly.  But  ere  that  might  be,  there 
appeared  unto  them  a  great  deed  of  war.  For  when  the 
bright  sun  came  up  above  the  earth,  we  joined  battle,  with 
prayer  to  Zeus,  and  Athene.  But  when  the  strife  of  the 
Pylians  and  Epeians  began,  I  was  the  first  that  slew  a  man, 
and  got  me  his  whole-hooved  steeds, — the  warrior  Mulios  was 
he,  who  had  to  wife  fair-haired  Agamede,  the  eldest  daughter 
of  Augeias,  and  she  knew  all  drugs  that  the  wide  earth 
nourisheth.  Him  as  he  came  on  I  smote  with  a  bronze-shod 
spear,  and  he  fell  in  the  dust  and  I  leaped  into  the  car,  and 
stood  among  the  foremost  fighters.  But  the  great-hearted 
Epeians  fled  this  way  and  that  when  they  saw  the  man  fall, 
even  the  leader  of  the  horsemen,  who  excelled  in  battle.  But 
I  sprang  upon  them,  like  a  black  tempest,  and  fifty  chariots 
I  took,  and  beside  each  chariot  two  men  bit  the  earth  with 
their  teeth,  subdued  beneath  my  spear.  And  now  should  I 
have  overthrown  the  twin  Moliones,  sons  of  Aktor,  if  their 
sire,  the  Earthshaker  of  wide  sway,  had  not  saved  them  out 
of  the  battle,  and  covered  them  with  a  thick  mist.^  There  Zeus 
gave  great  might  to  the  Pylians,  for  we  followed  through  the 
wide  plain,  slaying  the  foe  and  gathering  their  goodly  arms, 
even  till  we  brought  our  horses  to  Bouprasion,  rich  in  wheat, 
and  the  rock  Olenian,  and  where  is  the  hill  called  the  hill  of 
Alision,  whence  Athene  turned  the  people  again.     There  slew 


^  Aktor  was  the  putative,  Poseidon  the  real  father  of  the  Moliones. 


212  HOMER 

I  the  last  man  and  left  him  there,  but  the  Achaians  drave 
back  their  swift  horses  from  Bouprasion  to  Pylos,  and  all 
gave  praise,  among  the  gods  of  Zeus,  and  among  men  to 
Nestor.  Such  was  I,  if  ever  among  men  I  was  such  an  one. 
But  Achilles  is  for  reaping  alone  the  reward  of  his  valour; 
surely  methinks  that  he  will  repent,  and  lament  sore  when 
the  host  perisheth.  O  friend,  surely  Menoitios  thus  gave  thee 
command,  on  that  day  when  he  sent  thee  out  of  Phthia  to 
Agamemnon.  And  we  twain  were  within  the  house,  I  and 
goodly  Odysseus,  and  in  the  halls  heard  we  all  things  even  as  he 
commanded  thee.  For  we  had  come  to  the  fair-set  halls  of 
Peleus,  gathering  the  host  throughout  Achaia  of  the  fair  dames. 
There  then  we  found  the  hero  Menoitios  within,  and  thee, 
and  with  thee  Achilles.  And  Peleus  the  Old,  the  lord  of 
horses,  was  burning  the  fat  thighs  of  kine  to  Zeus,  whose  joy 
is  in  the  thunder,  in  the  precinct  of  his  court,  and  held  in  his 
hand  a  chalice  of  gold,  pouring  forth  the  bright  wine  upon  the 
burning  offerings.  And  ye  were  busy  about  the  flesh  of  the 
ox,  and  then  stood  we  in  the  doorway,  and  Achilles  leaped 
up  in  amazement,  and  took  us  by  the  hand,  and  led  us  in,  and 
bade  us  be  seated,  and  set  before  us  well  the  entertainment  of 
strangers,  all  that  is  their  due.  But  when  we  had  taken  delight 
in  eating  and  drinking,  I  began  the  discourse,  and  bade  you 
follow  with  us,  and  ye  were  right  eager,  and  those  twain  laid 
on  you  many  commands.  Peleus  the  Old  bade  his  son  Achilles 
be  ever  the  boldest  in  fight,  and  pre-eminent  over  others,  but 
to  thee  did  Menoitios  thus  give  command,  the  son  of  Aktor: 
*My  child,  of  lineage  is  Achilles  higher  than  thou,  and  thou 
art  elder,  but  in  might  he  is  better  far.  But  do  thou  speak 
to  him  well  a  word  of  wisdom,  and  put  it  to  him  gently,  and 
show  him  what  things  he  should  do,  and  he  will  obey  thee  to 
his  profit.*  So  did  the  old  man  give  thee  command,  but  thou 
art  forgetful.  Nay,  but  even  now  speak  thou  thus  and  thus 
to  wise-hearted  Achilles,  if  perchance  he  will  obey  thee.  Who 
knows  but  that,  God  helping,  thou  mightst  stir  his  spirit  with 
thy  persuading?  and  good  is  the  persuasion  of  a  friend.  But 
if  in  his  heart  he  be  shunning  some  oracle  of  God,  and  his 
lady  mother  hath  told  him  somewhat  from  Zeus,  natheless  let 
him  send  forth  thee,  and  let  the  rest  of  the  host  of  the  Myrmi- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XI  213 

dons  follow  with  thee,  if  perchance  any  light  shall  arise 
from  thee  to  the  Danaans;  and  let  him  give  thee  his  fair 
harness,  to  bear  into  the  war,  if  perchance  the  Trojans  may 
take  thee  for  him,  and  withhold  them  from  the  strife,  and  the 
warlike  sons  of  the  Achaians  might  take  breath,  being  wearied ; 
for  brief  is  the  breathing  time  in  battle.  And  lightly  might 
ye,  being  unwearied,  drive  men  wearied  in  the  war  unto  the 
city,  away  from  the  ships  and  the  huts." 

So  spake  he,  and  roused  his  heart  within  his  breast,  and 
he  started  and  ran  by  the  ships  to  Achilles  of  the  seed  of 
Aiakos.  But  when  Patroklos  came  in  his  running  to  the 
ships  of  godlike  Odysseus,  where  was  their  assembly  and 
place  of  law,  and  whereby  also  were  their  altars  of  the  gods 
established,  there  did  Eurypylos  meet  him,  Euaimon's  son, 
of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  wounded  in  the  thigh  with  an  arrow, 
and  limping  out  of  the  battle.  And  sweat  ran  down  stream- 
ing from  his  head  and  shoulders,  and  from  his  cruel  wound 
the  black  blood  was  welling,  but  his  mind  was  unshaken.  And 
the  strong  son  of  Menoitios  had  pity  on  him  when  he  beheld 
him,  and  lamenting  he  spake  winged  words:  "Ah,  wretched 
men,  ye  leaders  and  counsellors  of  the  Danaans.  How  are 
ye  now  doomed,  far  from  your  friends  and  your  own  country, 
to  feed  full  with  your  white  rat  the  swift  hounds  in  Troia! 
But  come,  tell  me  this,  Eurypylos,  hero  and  fosterling  of  Zeus, 
will  the  Achaians  yet  in  any  wise  restrain  mighty  Hector,  or 
will  they  perish  even  now,  subdued  beneath  his  spear?" 

And  to  him  again  did  the  wounded  Eurypylos  make 
answer:  "No  more,  Patroklos  of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  will  there 
be  any  defence  of  the  Achaians,  but  they  will  fall  among  the 
black  ships.  For  verily  all  of  them,  that  afore  were  bravest, 
are  lying  in  the  ships  wounded  and  smitten  by  the  hands  of 
the  Trojans,  whose  strength  is  waxing  always.  But  me  do 
thou  succour,  and  lead  me  to  the  black  ship,  and  cut  the  arrow 
out  of  my  thigh,  and  wash  away  the  black  blood  from  it  with 
warm  water,  and  smear  soft  healing  drugs  thereover,  these 
good  herbs  whereof  they  say  that  thou  hast  learned  from 
Achilles,  whom  Cheiron  taught,  the  most  righteous  of  the 
Centaurs.  For  of  the  leeches,  Podaleirios  and  Machaon,  one 
methinks,  is  wounded  in  the  huts,  and  himself  hath  need  of  a 


214  HOMER 

good  leech,  and  the  other  on  the  plain  abideth  the  keen  battle 
of  the  Trojans." 

Then  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios  answered  him  again: 
"How  should  these  things  be?  what  shall  we  do,  hero 
Eurypylos  ?  I  am  on  my  way  to  carry  a  saying  to  wise-hearted 
Achilles,  even  the  command  of  Nestor  of  Gerenia,  warden  of 
the  Achaians;  nay,  but  not  even  so  will  I  be  heedless  of  thee 
that  art  wounded." 

So  spake  he,  and  clasped  the  shepherd  of  the  host  below 
the  breast,  and  led  him  to  the  hut ;  and  the  squire  when  he 
beheld  them  cast  on  the  ground  the  skins  of  oxen.  There 
he  stretched  l.im  at  length,  and  cut  with  a  knife  the  sharp 
arrow  from  his  thigh,  and  washed  from  it  the  black  blood  with 
warm  water.  And  thereon  he  cast  a  bitter  root  rubbing  it 
between  his  hands,  a  root  that  took  pain  away,  and  ended 
all  his  anguish,  and  the  wound  began  to  dry,  and  the  blood 
ceased. 


BOOK  XII 

How  the  Trojans  and  allies  broke  within  the  wall  of  the  Achaians. 

So  in  the  huts  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios  was  tending  the 
wounded  Eurypylos,  but  still  they  fought  confusedly,  the  Ar- 
gives  and  Trojans.  Nor  were  the  fosse  of  the  Danaans  and 
their  wide  wall  above,  long  to  protect  them,  the  wall  they  had 
builded  for  defence  of  the  ships,  and  the  fosse  they  had  drawn 
round  about ;  for  neither  had  they  given  goodly  hectacombs  to 
the  gods,  that  it  might  guard  with  its  bounds  their  swift  ships, 
and  rich  spoil.  Nay,  maugre  the  deathless  gods  was  it 
builded,  wherefore  it  abode  steadfast  for  no  long  time.  While 
Hector  yet  lived,  and  yet  Achilles  kept  his  wrath,  and  un- 
sacked  was  the  city  of  Priam  the  king,  so  long  the  great  wall 
of  the  Achaians  likewise  abode  steadfast.  But  when  all  the 
bravest  of  the  Trojans  died,  and  many  of  the  Argives, — some 
were  taken,  and  some  were  left, — and  the  city  of  Priam  was 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   XII  215 

sacked  in  the  tenth  year,  and  the  Argives  had  gone  back  in 
their  ships  to  their  own  dear  country,  then  verily  did  Posei- 
don and  Apollo  take  counsel  to  wash  away  the  wall,  bring- 
ing in  the  might  of  the  rivers,  of  all  that  flow  from  the  hills 
of  Ida  to  the  sea.  Rhesos  there  was,  and  Heptaporos,  and 
Karesos,  and  Rhodios,  Grenikos,  and  Aisepos,  and  goodly 
Skamandros,  and  Simoeis,  whereby  many  shields  and  helms 
fell  in  the  dust,  and  the  generation  of  men  half  divine ;  the 
mouths  of  all  these  waters  did  Phoebus  Apollo  turn  together, 
and  for  nine  days  he  drave  their  stream  against  the  wall ;  and 
still  Zeus  rained  unceasingly,  that  the  quicker  he  might  mingle 
the  wall  with  the  salt  sea.  And  the  Shaker  of  the  earth,  with 
his  trident  in  his  hands,  was  himself  the  leader,  and  sent  forth 
into  the  waves  all  the  foundations  of  beams  and  stones  that 
the  Achaians  had  laid  with  toil,  and  made  all  smooth  by  the 
strong  current  of  Hellespont,  and  covered  again  the  great 
beach  with  sand,  when  he  had  swept  away  the  wall,  and  turned 
the  rivers  back  to  flow  in  their  channel,  where  of  old  they 
poured  down  their  fair  flow  of  water. 

So  were  Poseidon  and  Apollo  to  do  in  the  aftertime;  but 
then  war  and  the  din  of  war  sounded  about  the  well-builded 
wall,  and  the  beams  of  the  towers  rang  beneath  the  strokes; 
while  the  Argives,  subdued  by  the  scourge  of  Zeus,  were 
penned  and  driven  in  by  the  hollow  ships,  in  dread  of  Hector, 
the  mighty  maker  of  flight,  but  he,  as  aforetime,  fought  like  a 
whirlwind.  And  as  when,  among  hounds  and  hunting  men, 
a  boar  or  lion  wheeleth  him  about,  raging  in  his  strength,  and 
these  array  themselves  in  fashion  like  a  tower,  and  stand  up 
against  him,  casting  many  javelins  from  their  hands;  but 
never  is  his  stout  heart  confused  nor  afraid,  and  his  courage 
is  his  bane,  and  often  he  wheeleth  him  about,  and  maketh 
trial  of  the  ranks  of  men,  and  wheresoever  he  maketh  onset 
there  the  ranks  of  men  give  way,  even  so  Hector  went  and 
besought  his  comrades  through  the  press,  and  spurred  them 
on  to  cross  the  dyke.  But  his  swift-footed  horses  dared  not, 
but  loud  they  neighed,  standing  by  the  sheer  edge,  for  the 
wide  fosse  affrighted  them,  neither  easy  to  leap  from  hard 
by,  nor  to  cross,  for  overhanging  banks  stood  round  about  it 
all  on  either  hand,  and  above  it  was  furnished  with  sharp 


216  HOMER 

stakes  that  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  had  planted  there,  thick 
set  and  great,  a  bulwark  against  hostile  men.  Thereby  not 
lightly  might  a  horse  enter,  drawing  a  well- wheeled  chariot; 
but  the  footmen  were  eager,  if  they  might  accomplish  it. 
Then  Polydamas  drew  near  valiant  Hector,  and  spake  to  him : 
"Hector  and  ye  other  leaders  of  the  Trojans  and  allies,  fool- 
ishly do  we  drive  our  fleet  horses  through  the  dyke ;  nay  right 
hard  it  is  to  cross,  for  sharp  stakes  stand  in  it,  and  over 
against  them  the  wall  of  the  Achaians.  Thereby  none  may 
go  down  and  fight  in  chariots,  for  strait  is  the  place  wherein, 
methinks,  we  might  come  by  a  mischief.  For  if  Zeus  that 
thunders  on  high  is  utterly  to  destroy  them  in  his  evil  will, 
and  is  minded  to  help  the  Trojans,  verily  then  I  too  would 
desire  that  even  instantly  this  might  be,  that  the  Achaians 
should  perish  here  nameless  far  from  Argos;  but  and  if  they 
turn  again,  and  we  flee  back  from  among  the  ships,  and  rush 
into  the  delved  ditch,  then  methinks  that  not  even  one  from 
among  us  to  bear  the  tidings  will  win  back  to  the  city  before 
the  force  of  the  Achaians  when  they  rally.  But  come  as  I 
declare,  let  us  all  obey.  Let  our  squires  hold  the  horses  by  the 
dyke,  while  we  being  harnessed  in  our  gear  as  foot  soldiers 
follow  all  together  with  Hector,  and  the  Achaians  will  not 
withstand  us,  if  indeed  the  bands  of  death  be  made  fast  upon 
them." 

So  spake  Polydamas,  and  his  wise  word  pleased  Hector 
well,  and  straightway  in  his  harness  he  leaped  from  his  chariot 
to  the  ground.  Nor  were  the  other  Trojans  gathered  upon 
the  chariots,  but  they  all  leaped  forth,  when  they  beheld  goodly 
Hector.  There  each  gave  it  into  the  charge  of  his  own 
charioteer,  to  keep  the  horses  orderly  there  by  the  fosse.  And 
they  divided,  and  arrayed  themselves,  and  ordered  in  five 
companies  they  followed  with  the  leaders. 

Now  they  that  went  with  Hector  and  noble  Polydamas, 
these  were  most,  and  bravest,  and  most  were  eager  to  break  the 
wall,  and  fight  by  the  hollow  ships;  and  with  them  followed 
Kebriones  for  the  third,  for  Hector  had  left  another  man  with 
his  chariot,  a  weaker  warrior  than  Kebriones.  The  second 
company  Paris  led,  and  Alkathoos,  and  Agenor;  and  the  third 
company  Helenos  led,  and  godlike  Deiphobos, — two  sons  of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XII  .     217 

Priam, — the  third  was  the  warrior  Asios,  Asios  Hyrtakos' 
son,  whom  his  tall  sorrel  steeds  brought  out  of  Arisbe,  from 
the  river  Selleeis.  And  of  the  fourth  company  was  the  brave 
son  of  Anchises  leader,  even  Aineias;  and  with  him  were  two 
sons  of  Antenor,  Archelochos  and  Akamas,  both  well  skilled 
in  all  warfare. 

And  Sarpedon  led  the  glorious  allies,  and  to  be  with  him 
he  chose  Glaukos  and  warlike  Asteropaios,  for  they  seemed  to 
him  to  be  manifestly  the  bravest  of  all  after  himself,  but  he 
was  excellent,  yea,  above  all  the  host.  And  these  when  they 
had  arrayed  one  another  with  well-fashioned  shields  of  bulls' 
hide,  went  straight  and  eager  against  the  Danaans,  nor  deemed 
that  they  could  longer  resist  them,  but  that  themselves  should 
fall  on  the  black  ships. 

Then  the  rest  of  the  Trojans  and  the  far-famed  allies 
obeyed  the  counsel  of  blameless  Polydamas,  but  Asios,  son 
of  Hyrtakos,  leader  of  men,  willed  not  to  leave  his  horses 
there,  and  his  squire  the  charioteer,  but  with  them  he  drew 
near  the  swift  ships,  fond  man!  for  never  was  he,  avoiding 
evil  Fates,  to  return,  rejoicing  in  his  horses  and  chariot,  back 
from  the  ships  to  windy  Ilios.  Nay,  ere  that  the  Fate  of  ill 
name  overshadowed  him,  by  the  spear  of  Idomeneus,  the 
haughty  son  of  DeukaHon.  For  Asios  went  against  the  left  flank 
of  the  ships,  whereby  the  Achaians  returned  out  of  the  plain 
with  chariots  and  horses;  there  he  drave  through  his  horses 
and  his  car,  nor  found  he  the  doors  shut  on  the  gates,  and 
the  long  bar,  but  men  were  holding  them  open  if  perchance 
they  might  save  any  of  their  comrades  fleeing  out  of  the  battle 
towards  the  ships.  Straight  thereby  held  he  his  horses  with 
unswerving  aim,  and  his  men  followed  him,  crying  shrilly,  for 
they  deemed  that  the  Achaians  could  no  longer  hold  them  off, 
but  that  themselves  would  fall  on  the  black  ships :  fools,  for  in 
the  gates  they  found  two  men  of  the  bravest,  the  high-hearted 
sons  of  the  warrior  Lapithse,  one  the  son  of  Peirithoos,  strong 
Polypoites,  and  one  Leonteus,  peer  of  Ares  the  bane  of  men. 
These  twain  stood  in  front  of  the  lofty  gates,  like  high- 
crested  oak  trees  in  the  hills,  that  for  ever  abide  the  wind 
and  rain,  firm  fixed  with  roots  great  and  long;  even  so  these 
twain,  trusting  to  the  mightiness  of  their  hands,  abode  the 


218  HOMER 

coming  of  great  Asios,  and  fled  not.  But  straight  came  the 
Trojans  against  the  well-builded  wall,  holding  their  shields 
of  dry  bulls'  hide  on  high,  with  mighty  clamour,  round  the 
prince  Asios,  and  lamenos,  and  Orestes,  and  Adamas,  son  of 
Asios,  and  Thoon,  and  Oinomaos.  But  the  other  twain  for 
a  while,  being  within  the  wall,  urged  the  well-greaved  Achai- 
ans  to  fight  for  the  ships;  but  when  they  saw  the  Trojans 
assailing  the  wall,  while  the  Danaans  cried  and  turned  in 
flight,  then  forth  rushed  the  twain,  and  fought  in  front  of  the 
gates  like  wild  boars  that  in  the  mountains  abide  the  assailing 
crew  of  men  and  dogs,  and  charging  on  either  flank  they 
crush  the  wood  around  them,  cutting  it  at  the  root,  and  the 
clatter  of  their  tusks  waxes  loud,  till  one  smite  them  and 
take  their  life  away:  so  clattered  the  bright  bronze  on  the 
breasts  of  the  twain,  as  they  were  smitten  in  close  fight,  for 
right  hardily  they  fought,  trusting  to  the  host  above  them,  and 
to  their  own  strength. 

For  the  men  above  were  casting  with  stones  from  the 
well-builded  towers  In  defence  of  themselves,  and  of  the  huts, 
and  of  the  swift-faring  ships.  And  like  snowflakes  the  stones 
fell  earthward,  flakes  that  a  tempestuous  wind,  as  it  driveth 
the  dark  clouds,  rains  thickly  down  on  the  bounteous  earth: 
so  thick  fell  the  missiles  from  the  hands  of  Achaians  and 
Trojans  alike,  and  their  helms  rang  harsh  and  their  bossy 
shields,  being  smitten  with  mighty  stones.  Verily  then  Asios, 
son  of  Hyrtakos,  groaned  and  smote  both  his  thighs,  and  indig- 
nantly he  spake:  "Father  Zeus,  verily  thou  too  dost  greatly 
love  a  lie,  for  I  deemed  not  that  the  Achaian  heroes  could 
withstand  our  might  and  our  hands  invincible.  But  they  like 
wasps  of  nimble  body,  or  bees  that  have  made  their  dwellings 
in  a  rugged  path,  and  leave  not  their  hollow  hold,  but  abide 
and  keep  the  hunters  at  bay  for  the  sake  of  their  little  ones, 
even  so  these  men  have  no  will  to  give  ground  from  the  gates, 
though  they  are  but  two,  ere  they  slay  or  be  slain." 

So  spake  he,  nor  with  his  speech  did  he  persuade  the  mind 
of  Zeus,  for  his  will  was  to  give  renown  to  Hector. 

But  the  others  were  fighting  about  the  other  gates,  and 
hard  it  were  for  me  like  a  god  to  tell  all  these  things,  for 
everywhere  around  the  wall  of  stone  rose  the  fire  divine;  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XII  219 

Argives,  for  all  their  sorrow,  defending  the  ships  of  necessity ; 
and  all  the  gods  were  grieved  at  heart,  as  many  as  were  de- 
fenders of  the  Danaans  in  battle.  And  together  the  Lapithae 
waged  war  and  strife. 

There  the  son  of  Peirithoos,  mighty  Polypoites,  smote 
Damasos  with  the  spear,  through  the  helmet  with  cheek-pieces 
of  bronze ;  nor  did  the  bronze  helm  stay  the  spear,  but  the 
point  of  bronze  brake  clean  through  the  bone,  and  all  the 
brain  within  was  scattered,  and  the  spear  overcame  him  in 
his  eagerness.  Thereafter  he  slew  Pylon  and  Ormenos.  And 
Leonteus  of  the  stock  of  Ares  smote  Hippomachos,  son  of 
Antimachos,  with  the  spear,  striking  him  on  the  girdle.  Then 
again  he  drew  his  sharp  sword  from  the  sheath,  and  smote 
Antiphates  first  in  close  fight,  rushing  on  him  through  the 
throng,  that  he  fell  on  his  back  on  the  ground ;  and  thereafter 
he  brought  down  Menon,  and  lamenos,  and  Orestes  one  after 
the  other,  to  the  bounteous  earth. 

While  they  were  stripping  from  these  the  shining  arms, 
the  young  men  who  followed  with  Polydamas  and  Hector, 
they  that  were  most  in  number  and  bravest,  and  most  were 
eager  to  break  the  wall  and  set  the  ships  on  fire,  these  still 
stood  doubtful  by  the  fosse,  for  as  they  were  eager  to  pass 
over  a  bird  had  appeared  to  them,  an  eagle  of  lofty  flight, 
skirting  the  host  on  the  left  hand.  In  its  talons  it  bore  a 
blood-red  monstrous  snake,  alive,  and  struggling  still;  yea, 
not  yet  had  it  forgotten  the  joy  of  battle,  but  A^rithed  back- 
ward and  smote  the  bird  that  held  it  on  the  breast,  beside  the 
neck,  and  the  bird  cast  it  from  him  down  to  the  earth,  in  sore 
pain,  and  dropped  it  in  the  midst  of  the  throng;  then  with 
a  cry  sped  away  down  the  gusts  of  the  wind.  And  the  Tro- 
jans shuddered  when  they  saw  the  gleaming  snake  lying  in  the 
midst  of  them;  an  omen  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus. 

Then  verily  Polydamas  stood  by  brave  Hector,  and  spake : 
"Hector,  ever  dost  thou  rebuke  me  in  the  assemblies,  though 
I  counsel  wisely;  since  it  by  no  means  beseemeth  one  of  the 
people  to  speak  contrary  to  thee,  in  council  or  in  war,  but 
always  to  increase  thy  power;  but  now  again  will  I  say  all 
that  seemeth  to  me  to  be  best.  Let  us  not  advance  and  fight 
with  the  Danaans  for  the  ships.     For  even  thus,  methinks,  the 


220  HOMER 

end  will  be,  if  indeed  this  bird  hath  come  for  the  Trojans 
when  they  were  eager  to  cross  the  dyke,  this  eagle  of  lofty 
flight,  skirting  the  host  on  the  left  hand,  bearing  in  his  talons 
a  blood-red  monstrous  snake,  yet  living;  then  straightway  left 
he  hold  of  him,  before  he  reached  his  own  nest,  nor  brought 
him  home  in  the  end  to  give  to  his  nestlings.  Even  so  shall 
we,  though  we  burst  with  mighty  force  the  gates  and  wall  of 
the  Achaians,  and  the  Achaians  give  ground,  even  so  we  shall 
return  in  disarray  from  the  ships  by  the  way  we  came;  for 
many  of  the  Trojans  shall  we  leave  behind,  whom  the  Achai- 
ans will  slay  with  the  sword,  in  defence  of  the  ships.  Even 
so  would  a  soothsayer  interpret  that  in  his  heart  had  clear 
knowledge  of  omens,  and  whom  the  people  obeyed." 

Then  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  lowered  on  him  and 
said:  "Polydamas,  that  thou  speakest  is  no  longer  pleasing 
to  me;  yea  thou  knowest  how  to  conceive  another  counsel 
better  than  this.  But  if  thou  verily  speakest  thus  in  earnest, 
then  the  gods  themselves  have  utterly  destroyed  thy  wits; 
thou  that  bidst  us  forget  the  counsels  of  loud-thundering  Zeus, 
that  himself  promised  me,  and  confirmed  with  a  nod  of  his 
head!  But  thou  bidst  us  be  obedient  to  birds  long  of  wing, 
whereto  I  give  no  heed,  nor  take  any  care  thereof,  whether 
they  fare  to  the  right,  to  the  dawn  and  to  the  sun,  or  to  the 
left,  to  mist  and  darkness.  Nay,  for  us,  let  us  trust  to  the 
counsel  of  mighty  Zeus,  who  is  king  over  all  mortals  and 
immortals.  One  omen  is  best,  to  fight  for  our  own  country. 
And  wherefore  dost  thou  fear  war  and  battle?  For  if  all  the 
rest  of  us  be  slain  by  the  ships  of  the  Argives,  yet  needst  thou 
not  fear  to  perish,  for  thy  heart  is  not  warlike,  nor  enduring 
in  battle.  But  if  thou  dost  hold  aloof  from  the  fight,  or 
winnest  any  other  with  thy  words  to  turn  him  from  war, 
straighway  by  my  spear  shalt  thou  be  smitten,  and  lose  thy 
life." 

So  spake  he,  and  led  on,  and  they  followed  with  a  won- 
drous din;  and  Zeus  that  joyeth  in  the  thunder  roused  from 
the  hills  of  Ida  a  blast  of  wind,  which  bare  the  dust  straight 
against  the  ships;  and  he  made  weak  the  heart  of  the  Achai- 
ans, but  gave  renown  to  the  Trojans  and  to  Hector.  Trust- 
ing then  in  his  omens,  and  their  might,  they  strove  to  break 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XII  221 

the  great  wall  of  the  Achaians.  They  dragged  down  the 
machicolations  of  the  towers,  and  overthrew  the  battlements, 
and  heaved  up  the  projecting  buttresses,  that  the  Achaians  set 
first  in  the  earth,  to  be  the  props  of  the  towers.  These  they 
overthrew,  and  hoped  to  break  the  wall  of  the  Achaians. 
Nor  even  now  did  the  Danaans  give  ground  from  the  path, 
but  closed  up  the  battlements  with  shields  of  bulls'  hides,  and 
cast  from  them  at  the  foemen  as  they  went  below  the  walls. 

Now  the  two  Aiantes  went  everywhere  on  the  towers,  ever 
urging,  and  arousing  the  courage  of  the  Achaians.  One  they 
would  accost  with  honeyed  words,  another  with  hard  words 
they  would  rebuke,  whomsoever  they  saw  utterly  giving 
ground  from  the  fight :  "O  friends,  whosoever  is  eminent, 
or  whosoever  is  of  middle  station  among  the  Argives,  ay,  or 
lower  yet,  for  in  no  wise  are  all  men  equal  in  war,  now  is 
there  work  for  all,  and  this  yourselves  well  know.  Let  none 
turn  back  to  the  ships,  for  that  he  hath  heard  one  threatening 
aloud ;  nay,  get  ye  forward,  and  cheer  another  on,  if  perchance 
Olympian  Zeus,  the  lord  of  lightning,  will  grant  us  to  drive 
back  the  assault,  and  push  the  foe  to  the  city." 

So  these  twain  shouted  in  the  front,  and  aroused  the 
battle  of  the  Achaians.  But  as  flakes  of  snow  fall  thick  on  a 
winter  day,  when  Zeus  the  Counsellor  hath  begun  to  snow, 
showing  forth  these  arrows  of  his  to  men,  and  he  hath  lulled 
the  winds,  and  he  snoweth  continually,  till  he  hath  covered 
the  crests  of  the  high  hills,  and  the  uttermost  headlands,  and 
the  grassy  plains,  and  rich  tillage  of  men;  and  the  snow  is 
scattered  over  the  havens  and  shores  of  the  grey  sea,  and  only 
the  wave  as  it  rolleth  in  keeps  off  the  snow,  but  all  other 
things  are  swathed  over,  when  the  shower  of  Zeus  cometh 
heavily,  so  from  both  sides  their  stones  flew  thick,  some  tow- 
ards the  Trojans,  and  some  from  the  Trojans  against  the 
Achaians,  while  both  sides  were  smitten,  and  over  all  the  wall 
the  din  arose. 

Yet  never  would  the  Trojans,  then,  and  renowned  Hector 
have  broken  the  gates  of  the  wall,  and  the  long  bar,  if  Zeus 
the 'Counsellor  had  not  roused  his  son  Sarpedon  against  the 
Argives,  like  a  lion  against  the  kine  of  crooked  horn.  Straight- 
way he  held  forth  his  fair  round  shield,  of  hammered  bronze, 


222  HOMER 

that  the  bronze-smith  had  hammered  out,  and  within  had 
stitched  many  bulls'  hides  with  rivets  of  gold,  all  round  the 
circle,  this  held  he  forth,  and  shook  two  spears;  and  sped  on 
his  way,  like  a  mountain-nurtured  lion,  that  long  lacketh  meat, 
and  his  brave  spirit  urgeth  him  to  make  assail  on  the  sheep, 
and  come  even  against  a  well-builded  homestead.  Nay,  even 
if  he  find  herdsmen  thereby,  guarding  the  sheep  with  hounds 
and  spears,  yet  hath  he  no  mind  to  be  driven  without  an 
effort  from  the  steading,  but  he  either  leapeth  on  a  sheep,  and 
seizeth  it,  or  himself  is  smitten  in  the  foremost  place  with  a 
dart  from  a  strong  hand.  So  did  his  heart  then  urge  on  the 
god-like  Sarpedon  to  rush  against  the  wall,  and  break  through 
the  battlements.  And  instantly  he  spake  to  Glaukos,  son  of 
Hippolochos :  "Glaukos,  wherefore  have  we  twain  the  chiefest 
honour, — seats  of  honour,  and  messes,  and  full  cups  in  Lykia, 
and  all  men  look  on  us  as  gods?  And  wherefore  hold  we  a 
great  demesne  by  the  banks  of  Xanthos,  a  fair  demesne  of 
orchard-land,  and  wheat-bearing  tilth?  Therefore  now  it  be- 
hoveth  us  to  take  our  stand  in  the  first  rank  of  the  Lykians, 
and  encounter  fiery  battle,  that  certain  of  the  well-corsleted 
Lykians  may  say,  'Verily  our  kings  that  rule  Lykia  be  no  in- 
glorious men,  they  that  eat  fat  sheep,  and  drink  the  choice 
wine  honey-sweet:  nay,  but  they  are  also  of  excellent  might, 
for  they  war  in  the  foremost  ranks  of  the  Lykians.  Ah, 
friend,  if  once  escaped  from  this  battle  we  were  for  ever  to 
be  ageless  and  immortal,  neither  would  I  fight  myself  in  the 
foremost  ranks,  nor  would  I  send  thee  into  the  war  that  giveth 
men  renown,  but  now — for  assuredly  ten  thousand  fates  of 
death  do  every  way  beset  us,  and  these  no  mortal  may  escape 
nor  avoid — now  let  us  go  forward,  whether  we  shall  give 
glory  to  other  men,  or  others  to  us." 

So  spake  he,  and  Glaukos  turned  not  apart,  nor  disobeyed 
him,  and  they  twain  went  straight  forward,  leading  the  great 
host  of  the  Lykians. 

Then  Menestheus  son  of  Peteos  shuddered  when  he  beheld 
them,  for  against  his  tower  they  went,  bringing  with  them 
ruin;  and  he  looked  along  the  tower  of  the  Achaians  if  per- 
chance he  might  see  any  of  the  leaders,  that  would  ward  off 
destruction  from  his  comrades,  and  he  beheld  the  two  Aiantes, 


THE   ILIAD—BOOK   XII  223 

insatiate  of  war,  standing  there,  and  Teukros  hard  by,  newly 
come  from  his  hut ;  but  he  could  not  cry  to  be  heard  of  them, 
so  great  was  the  din,  and  the  noise  went  up  unto  heaven  of 
smitten  shields  and  helms  with  horse-hair  crests,  and  of  the 
gates,  for  they  had  all  been  shut,  and  the  Trojans  stood  beside 
them,  and  strove  by  force  to  break  them,  and  enter  in.  Swiftly 
then  to  Aias  he  sent  the  herald  Thootes:  "Go,  noble  Thootes, 
anl  run,  and  call  Aias :  or  rather  the  twain,  for  that  will  be  far 
the  best  of  all,  since  quickly  here  will  there  be  wrought  utter 
ruin.  For  hereby  press  the  leaders  of  the  Lykians,  who  of 
old  are  fierce  in  strong  battle.  But  if  beside  them  too  war  and 
toil  arise,  yet  at  least  let  the  strong  Telamonian  Aias  come 
alone  and  let  Teukros  the  skilled  bowman  follow  with  him." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  herald  listened  and  disobeyed  him 
not,  but  staited  and  ran  by  the  wall  of  the  mail-clad  Achaians, 
and  came,  and  stood  by  the  Aiantes,  and  straightway  spake: 
"Ye  twain  Aiantes,  leaders  of  the  mail-clad  Achaians,  the 
dear  son  of  Peteos,  fosterling  of  Zeus,  biddeth  you  go  thither, 
that,  if  it  be  but  for  a  little  while,  ye  may  take  your  part  in 
battle;  both  of  you  he  more  desireth,  for  that  will  be  far  the 
best  of  all,  since  quickly  there  will  there  be  wrought  utter 
ruin.  For  thereby  press  the  leaders  of  the  Lykians,  who  of 
old  are  fierce  in  strong  battle.  But  if  beside  you  too  war 
and  toil  arise,  yet  at  least  let  the  strong  Telamonian  Aias 
come  alone,  and  let  Teukros  the  skilled  bowman  follow  with 
him." 

So  spake  he,  nor  did  the  strong  Telamonian  Aias  disobey, 
but  instantly  spake  winged  words  to  the  son  of  Oileus :  "Aias, 
do  ye  twain  stand  here,  thyself  and  strong  Lykomedes,  and 
urge  the  Danaans  to  war  with  all  their  might ;  but  I  go  thither, 
to  take  my  part  in  battle,  and  quickly  will  I  come  again,  when 
I  have  well  aided  them." 

So  spake  Telamonian  Aias  and  departed,  and  Teukros  went 
with  him,  his  brother  by  the  same  father,  and  with  them  Pan- 
dion  bare  the  bended  bow  of  Teukros. 

Now  when  they  came  to  the  tower  of  great-hearted  Menes- 
theus,  passing  within  the  wall, — and  to  men  sore  pressed  they 
came, — the  foe  were  climbing  upon  the  battlements,  like  a 
dark  whirlwind,  even  the  strong  leaders  and  counsellors  of 


224  HOMER 

the  Lykians,  and  they  hurled  together  into  the  war  and  the 
battle-cry  arose.  Now  first  did  Aias  Telamon's  son  slay  a 
man,  Epikles  g^eat  of  heart,  the  comrade  of  Sarpedon,  With 
a  jagged  stone  he  smote  him,  a  great  stone  that  lay  uppermost 
within  the  wall,  by  the  battlements.  Not  lightly  could  a  man 
hold  it  in  both  hands,  however  strong  in  his  youth,  of  such 
mortals  as  now  are,  but  Aias  lifted  it,  and  cast  it  from  above 
and  shattered  the  helm  of  fourfold  crest,  and  all  to  brake  the 
bones  of  the  head,  and  he  fell  like  a  diver  from  the  lofty 
tower,  and  his  life  left  his  bones.  And  Teukros  smote  Glau- 
kos,  the  strong  son  of  Hippolochos,  as  he  came  on,  with  an 
arrow  from  the  lofty  wall;  even  where  he  saw  his  shoulder 
bare  he  smote  him,  and  made  him  cease  from  delight  in  battle. 
Back  from  the  wall  he  leapt  secretly,  lest  any  of  the  Achaians 
should  see  him  smitten,  and  speak  boastfully.  But  sorrow 
came  on  Sarpedon  when  Glaukos  departed,  so  soon  as  he  was 
aware  thereof,  but  he  forgot  not  the  joy  of  battle.  He  aimed 
at  Alkmaon,  son  of  Thestor,  with  the  spear,  and  smote  him, 
and  drew  out  the  spear.  And  Alkmaon  following  the  spear 
fell  prone,  and  his  bronze-dight  arms  rang  round  him.  Then 
Sarpedon  seized  with  strong  hands  the  battlement,  and 
dragged,  and  it  all  gave  way  together,  while  above  the  wall 
was  stripped  bare,  and  made  a  path  for  many. 

Then  Aias  and  Teukros  did  encounter  him :  Teukros  smote 
him  with  an  arrow,  on  the  bright  baldric  of  his  covering  shield, 
about  the  breast,  but  Zeus  warded  off  the  Fates  from  his  son, 
that  he  should  not  be  overcome  beside  the  ships'  sterns.  Then 
Aias  leaped  on  and  smote  his  shield,  nor  did  the  spear  pass 
clean  through,  yet  shook  he  Sarpedon  in  his  eagerness.  He 
gave  ground  a  little  way  from  the  battlement,  yet  retreated  not 
wholly,  since  his  heart  hoped  to  win  renown.  Then  he  turned 
and  cried  to  the  godlike  Lykians :  "O  Lykians,  wherefore  thus 
are  ye  slack  in  impetuous  valour.  Hard  it  is  for  me,  stalwart 
as  I  am,  alone  to  break  through,  and  make  a  path  to  the  ships, 
nay,  follow  hard  after  me,  for  the  more  men,  the  better  work." 

So  spake  he,  and  they,  dreading  the  rebuke  of  their  king, 
pressed  on  the  harder  around  the  counsellor  and  king.  And 
the  Argives  on  the  other  side  made  strong  their  battalions 
within  the  wall,  and  mighty  toil  began  for  them.     For  neither 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   XII  225 

could  the  strong  Lykians  burst  through  the  wall  of  the  Dana- 
ans,  and  make  a  way  to  the  ships,  nor  could  the  warlike  Dana- 
ans  drive  back  the  Lykians  from  the  wall,  when  once  they  had 
drawn  near  thereto.  But  as  two  men  contend  about  the 
marches  of  their  land,  with  measuring  rods  in  their  hands,  in 
a  common  field,  when  in  narrow  space  they  strive  for  equal 
shares,  even  so  the  battlements  divided  them,  and  over  those 
they  smote  the  round  shields  of  ox  hide  about  the  breasts  of 
either  side,  and  the  fluttering  bucklers.  And  many  were 
wounded  in  the  flesh  with  the  ruthless  bronze,  whensoever  the 
back  of  any  of  the  warriors  was  laid  bare  as  he  turned,  ay, 
and  many  clean  through  the  very  shield.  Yea,  everywhere 
the  towers  and  battlements  swam  with  the  blood  of  men  shed 
on  either  side,  by  Trojans  and  Achaians.  But  even  so  they 
could  not  put  the  Argives  to  rout,  but  they  held  their  ground, 
as  an  honest  woman  that  laboureth  with  her  hands  holds  the 
balance,  and  raises  the  weight  and  the  wool  together,  balancing 
them,  that  she  may  win  scant  wages  for  her  children ;  so  evenly 
was  strained  their  war  and  battle,  till  the  moment  when  Zeus 
gave  the  greater  renown  to  Hector,  son  of  Priam,  who  was 
the  first  to  leap  within  the  wall  of  the  Achaians.  In  a  pierc- 
ing voice  he  cried  aloud  to  the  Trojans:  "Rise,  ye  horse-tam- 
ing Trojans,  break  the  wall  of  the  Argives,  and  cast  among 
the  ships  fierce  blazing  fire." 

So  spake  he,  spurring  them  on,  and  they  all  heard  him 
with  their  ears,  and  in  one  mass  rushed  straight  against  the 
wall,  and  with  sharp  spears  in  their  hands  climbed  upon  the 
machicolations  of  the  towers.  And  Hector  seized  and  car- 
ried a  stone  that  lay  in  front  of  the  gates,  thick  in  the  hinder 
part,  but  sharp  at  point :  a  stone  that  not  the  two  best  men  of 
the  people,  such  as  mortals  now  are,  could  lightly  lift  from 
the  ground  on  to  a  wain,  but  easily  he  wielded  it  alone,  for  the 
son  of  crooked-counselling  Kronos  made  it  light  for  him. 
And  as  when  a  shepherd  lightly  beareth  the  fleece  of  a  ram, 
taking  it  in  one  hand,  and  little  doth  it  burden  him,  so  Hector 
lifted  the  stone,  and  bare  it  straight  against  the  doors  that 
closely  guarded  the  stubborn-set  portals,  double  gates  and  tall, 
and  two  cross  bars  held  them  within,  and  one  bolt  fastened 
them.     And  he  came,  and  stood  hard  by,  and  firmly  planted 


226  HOMER 

himself,  and  smote  them  in  the  midst,  setting  his  legs  well 
apart,  that  his  cast  might  lack  no  strength.  And  he  brake 
both  the  hinges,  and  the  stone  fell  within  by  reason  of  its 
weight,  and  the  gates  rang  loud  around,  and  the  bars  held 
not,  and  the  doors  burst  this  way  and  that  beneath  the  rush 
of  the  stone.  Then  glorious  Hector  leaped  in,  with  face  like 
the  sudden  night,  shining  in  wondrous  mail  that  was  clad  about 
his  body,  and  with  two  spears  in  his  hands.  No  man  that 
met  him  could  have  held  him  back  when  once  he  leaped  within 
the  gates:  none  but  the  gods,  and  his  eyes  shone  with  fire. 
Turning  towards  the  throng  he  cried  to  the  Trojans  to  over- 
leap the  wall,  and  they  obeyed  his  summons,  and  speedily  some 
overleaped  the  wall,  and  some  poured  into  the  fair-wrought 
gateways,  and  the  Danaans  fled  in  fear  among  the  hollow  ships, 
and  a  ceaseless  clamour  arose. 


BOOK  XIII 

Poseidon  stirreth  up  the  Achaians  to  defend  the  ships.  The 
valour  of  Idomeneus. 

Now  Zeus,  after  that  he  had  brought  the  Trojans  and 
Hector  to  the  ships,  left  them  to  their  toil  and  endless  labour 
there,  but  otherwhere  again  he  turned  his  shining  eyes,  and 
looked  upon  the  land  of  the  Thracian  horsebreeders,  and  the 
Mysians,  fierce  fighters  hand  to  hand,  and  the  proud  Hippe- 
molgoi  that  drink  mare's  milk,  and  the  Abioi,  the  most  right- 
eous of  men.  To  Troy  no  more  at  all  he  turned  his  shining 
eyes,  for  he  deemed  in  his  heart  that  not  one  of  the  Immortals 
would  draw  near,  to  help  either  Trojans  or  Danaans. 

But  the  mighty  Earthshaker  held  no  blind  watch,  who  sat 
and  marvelled  on  the  war  and  strife,  high  on  the  topmost 
crest  of  wooded  Samothrace,  for  thence  all  Ida  was  plain  to 
see;  and  plain  to  see  were  the  city  of  Priam,  and  the  ships  of 
the  Achaians.  Thither  did  he  go  from  the  sea  and  sate  him 
down,  and  he  had  pity  on  the  Achaians,  that  they  were  subdued 
to  the  Trojans,  and  strong  was  his  anger  against  Zeus. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  227 

Then  forthwith  he  went  down  from  the  rugged  hill,  faring 
with  swift  steps,  and  the  high  hills  trembled,  and  the  woodland, 
beneath  the  immortal  footsteps  of  Poseidon  as  he  moved. 
Three  strides  he  made,  and  with  the  fourth  he  reached  his 
goal,  even  Aigae,  and  there  was  his  famous  palace  in  the  deeps 
of  the  mere,  his  glistering  golden  mansions  builded,  imperish- 
able for  ever.  Thither  went  he,  and  let  harness  to  the  car  his 
bronze-hooved  horses,  swift  of  flight,  clothed  with  their  golden 
manes.  He  girt  his  own  golden  array  about  his  body,  and 
seized  the  well-wrought  lash  of  gold,  and  mounted  his  chariot, 
and  forth  he  drove  across  the  waves.  And  the  sea  beasts  frol- 
icked beneath  him,  on  all  sides  out  of  the  deeps,  for  well  they 
knew  their  lord,  and  with  gladness  the  sea  stood  asunder,  and 
swiftly  they  sped,  and  the  axle  of  bronze  was  not  wetted  be- 
neath, and  the  bounding  steeds  bare  him  on  to  the  ships  of  the 
Achaians. 

Now  there  is  a  spacious  cave  in  the  depths  of  the  deep  mere, 
between  Tenedos  and  rugged  Imbros ;  there  did  Poseidon,  the 
Shaker  of  the  earth,  stay  his  horses,  and  loosed  them  out  of 
the  chariot,  and  cast  before  them  ambrosial  food  to  graze 
withal,  and  golden  tethers  he  bound  about  their  hooves,  tethers 
neither  to  be  broken  nor  loosed,  that  there  the  horses  might 
continually  await  their  lord's  return.  And  he  went  to  the 
host  of  the  Achaians. 

Now  the  Trojans  like  flame  or  storm-wind  were  following 
in  close  array,  with  fierce  intent,  after  Hector,  son  of  Priam. 
With  shouts  and  cries  they  came,  and  thought  to  take  the 
ships  of  the  Achaians,  and  to  slay  thereby  all  the  bravest  of 
the  host.  But  Poseidon,  that  girdleth  the  world,  the  Shaker 
of  the  earth,  was  urging  on  the  Argives,  and  forth  he  came 
from  the  deep  salt  sea,  in  form  and  untiring  voice  like  unto 
Kalchas.  First  he  spake  to  the  two  Aiantes,  that  themselves 
were  eager  for  battle:  "Ye  Aiantes  twain,  ye  shall  save  the 
people  of  the  Achaians,  if  ye  are  mindful  of  your  might,  and 
reckless  of  chill  fear.  For  verily  I  do  not  otherwhere  dread 
the  invincible  hands  of  the  Trojans,  that  have  climbed  the 
great  wall  in  their  multitude,  nay,  the  well  greaved  Achaians 
will  hold  them  all  at  bay ;  but  hereby  verily  do  I  greatly  dread 
lest  some  evil  befall  us,  even  here  where  that  furious  one  is 


228  HOMER 

leading  like  a  flame  of  fire,  Hector,  who  boasts  him  to  be  son 
of  mighty  Zeus.  Nay,  but  here  may  some  god  put  it  into  the 
hearts  of  you  twain,  to  stand  sturdily  yourselves,  and  urge 
others  to  do  the  like;  thereby  might  ye  drive  him  from  the 
fleet-faring  ships,  despite  his  eagerness,  yea,  even  if  the  Olym- 
pian himself  is  rousing  him  to  war." 

Therewith  the  Shaker  of  the  world,  the  girdler  of  the  earth, 
struck  the  twain  with  his  staff,  and  filled  them  with  strong 
courage,  and  their  limbs  he  made  light,  and  their  feet,  and 
their  hands  withal.  Then,  even  as  a  swift-winged  hawk  speeds 
forth  to  fly,  poised  high  above  a  tall  sheer  rock,  and  swoops 
to  chase  some  other  bird  across  the  plain,  even  so  Poseidon 
sped  from  them,  the  Shaker  of  the  world.  And  of  the  twain 
Oileus'  son,  the  swift- footed  Aias,  was  the  first  to  know  the 
god,  and  instantly  he  spake  to  Aias,  son  of  Telamon :  "Aias, 
since  it  is  one  of  the  gods  who  hold  Olympus,  that  in  the 
semblance  of  a  seer  commands  us  now  to  fight  beside  the  ships 
—not  Kalchas  is  he,  the  prophet  and  soothsayer,  for  easily 
I  knew  the  tokens  of  his  feet  and  knees  as  he  turned  away, 
and  the  gods  are  easy  to  discern — lo,  then  mine  own  heart 
within  my  breast  is  more  eagerly  set  on  war  and  battle,  and 
my  feet  beneath  and  my  hands  above  are  lusting  for  the  fight." 

Then  Aias,  son  of  Telamon,  answered  him  saying:  "Even 
so,  too,  my  hands  invincible  now  rage  about  the  spear-shaft, 
and  wrath  has  risen  within  me,  and  both  my  feet  are  swift 
beneath  me ;  yea,  I  am  keen  to  meet,  even  in  single  fight,  the 
ceaseless  rage  of  Hector  son  of  Priam." 

So  they  spake  to  each  other,  rejoicing  in  the  delight  of 
battle,  which  the  god  put  in  their  heart.  Then  the  girdler  of 
the  earth  stirred  up  the  Achaians  that  were  in  the  rear  and  were 
renewing  their  strength  beside  the  swift  ships.  Their  limbs 
were  loosened  by  their  grievous  toil,  yea,  and  their  souls  filled 
with  sorrow  at  the  sight  of  the  Trojans,  that  had  climbed  over 
,the  great  wall  in  their  multitude.  And  they  looked  on  them, 
and  shed  tears  beneath  their  brows,  thinking  that  never  would 
they  escape  destruction.  But  the  Shaker  of  the  earth  right 
easily  came  among  them,  and  urged  on  the  strong  battalions 
of  warriors.  Teukros  first  he  came  and  summoned,  and 
I,eitos,  and  the  hero  Peneleos,  and  Thoas,  and  Deipyros,  and 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  229 

Meriones,  and  Antilochos,  lords  of  the  war-cry,  aU  these  he 
spurred  on  with  winged  words:  "Shame  on  you,  Argives, 
shame,  ye  stripHngs,  in  your  battle  had  I  trusted  for  the  salva- 
tion of  our  ships.  But  if  you  are  to  withdraw  from  grievous 
war,  now  indeed  the  day  doth  shine  that  shall  see  us  conquered 
by  the  Trojans.  Out  on  it,  for  verily  a  great  marvel  is  this  that 
mine  eyes  behold,  a  terrible  thing  that  mtthought  should 
never  come  to  pass,  the  Trojans  advancing  against  our  ships! 
Of  yore  they  were  like  fleeting  hinds,  that  in  the  wild  wood 
are  the  prey  of  jackals,  and  pards,  and  wolves,  and  wander 
helpless,  strengthless,  empty  of  the  joy  of  battle.  Even  so 
the  Trojans  of  old  cared  never  to  wait  and  face  the  wrath  and 
the  hands  of  the  Achaians,  not  for  a  moment.  But  now  they 
are  fighting  far  from  the  town,  by  the  hollow  ships,  all  through 
the  baseness  of  our  leader  and  the  remissness  of  the  people, 
who,  being  at  strife  with  the  chief,  have  no  heart  to  defend 
the  swift- faring  ships,  nay,  thereby  they  are  slain.  But  if 
indeed  and  in  truth  the  hero  Agamemnon,  the  wide-ruling  son 
of  Atreus,  is  the  very  cause  of  all,  for  that  he  did  dishonour 
the  swift-footed  son  of  Peleus,  not  even  so  may  we  refrain  in 
any  wise  from  war.  Nay,  let  us  right  our  fault  with  speed, 
for  easily  righted  are  the  hearts  of  the  brave.  No  longer  do 
ye  well  to  refrain  from  impetuous  might,  all  ye  that  are  the 
best  men  of  the  host.  I  myself  would  not  quarrel  with  one 
that,  being  a  weakling,  abstained  from  war,  but  with  you  I 
am  heartily  wroth.  Ah,  friends,  soon  shall  ye  make  the  mis- 
chief more  through  this  remissness, — but  let  each  man  conceive 
shame  in  his  heart,  and  indignation,  for  verily  great  is  the  strife 
that  hath  arisen.  Lo,  the  mighty  Hector  of  the  loud  war- 
cry  is  fighting  at  the  ships,  and  the  gates  and  the  long  bar  he 
hath  burst  asunder." 

On  this  wise  did  the  Earth-en  folder  call  to  and  spur  on 
the  Achaians.  And  straightway  they  made  a  stand  around  the 
two  Aiantes,  strong  bands  that  Ares  himself  could  not  enter 
and  make  light  of,  nor  Athene  that  marshals  the  host.  Yea, 
they  were  the  chosen  best  that  abode  the  Trojans  and  goodly 
Hector,  and  spear  on  spear  made  close-set  fence,  and  shield  on 
serried  shield,  buckler  pressed  on  buckler,  and  helm  on  helm, 
and  man  on  man.     The  horse-hair  crests  on  the  bright  helmet- 


230  HOMER 

ridges  touched  each  other  as  they  nodded,  so  close  they  stood 
each  by  other,  and  spears  brandished  in  bold  hands  were  inter- 
laced; and  their  hearts  were  steadfast  and  lusted  for  battle. 

Then  the  Trojans  drave  forward  in  close  array,  and  Hec- 
tor led  them,  pressing  straight  onwards,  like  a  rolling  rock 
from  a  clifif,  that  the  winter-swollen  water  thrusteth  from  the 
crest  of  a  hill,  having  broken  the  foundations  of  the  stubborn 
rock  with  its  wondrous  flood;  leaping  aloft  it  flies,  and  the 
wood  echoes  under  it,  and  unstayed  it  runs  its  course,  till  it 
reaches  the  level  plain,  and  then  it  rolls  no  more  for  all  its 
eagerness, — even  so  Hector  for  a  while  threatened  lightly  to 
win  to  the  sea  through  the  huts  and  the  ships  of  the  Achaians, 
slaying  as  he  came,  but  when  he  encountered  the  serried  battal- 
ions, he  was  stayed  when  he  drew  near  against  them.  But 
they  of  the  other  part,  the  sons  of  the  Achaians,  thrust  with 
their  swords  and  double-pointed  spears,  and  drave  him  forth 
from  them,  that  he  "gave  ground  and  reeled  backward.  Then 
he  cried  with  a  piercing  voice,  calling  on  the  Trojans :  "Tro- 
jans, and  Lykians,  and  close-fighting  Dardanians,  hold  your 
ground,  for  the  Achaians  will  not  long  ward  me  off,  nay, 
though  they  have  arrayed  themselves  in  fashion  like  a  tower. 
Rather,  methinks,  they  will  flee  back  before  the  spear,  if  verily 
the  chief  of  gods  has  set  me  on,  the  loud-thundering  lord  of 
Hera." 

Therewith  he  spurred  on  the  heart  and  spirit  of  each  man ; 
and  Deiphobos,  the  son  of  Priam,  strode  among  them  with 
high  thoughts,  and  held  in  front  of  him  the  circle  of  his  shield, 
and  lightly  he  stepped  with  his  feet,  advancing  beneath  the 
cover  of  his  shield.  Then  Meriones  aimed  at  him  with  a  shin- 
ing spear,  and  struck,  and  missed  not,  but  smote  the  circle  of 
the  bulls'-hide  shield,  yet  no  whit  did  he  pierce  it;  nay,  well 
ere  that  might  be,  the  long  spear-shaft  snapped  in  the  socket. 
Now  Deiphobos  was  holding  off  from  him  the  bulls'-hide 
shield,  and  his  heart  feared  the  lance  of  wise  Meriones,  but 
that  hero  shrunk  back  among  the  throng  of  his  comrades, 
greatly  in  wrath  both  for  the  loss  of  victory,  and  of  his  spear, 
that  he  had  shivered.  So  he  set  forth  to  go  to  the  huts  and 
the  ships  of  the  Achaians,  to  bring  a  long  spear,  that  he  had 
left  in  his  hut. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  231 

Meanwhile  the  others  were  fighting  on,  and  there  arose  an 
inextinguishable  cry.  First  Teukros,  son  of  Telamon,  slew 
a  man,  the  spearman  Imbrios,  the  son  of  Mentor  rich  in 
horses.  In  Pedaion  he  dwelt,  before  the  coming  of  the  sons 
of  the  Achaians,  and  he  had  for  wife  a  daughter  of  Priam, 
born  out  of  wedlock,  Medesikaste;  but  when  the  curved  ships 
of  the  Danaans  came,  he  returned  again  to  Ilios,  and  was  pre- 
eminent among  the  Trojans,  and  dwelt  with  Priam,  who  hon- 
oured him  like  his  own  children.  Him  the  son  of  Telamon 
pierced  below  the  ear  with  his  long  lance,  and  plucked  back  the 
spear.  Then  he  fell  like  an  ash  that  on  the  crest  of  a  far-seen 
hill  is  smitten  with  the  axe  of  bronze,  and  brings  its  delicate  fol- 
iage to  the  ground ;  even  so  he  fell,  and  round  him  rang  his 
armour  bedight  with  bronze.  Then  Teukros  rushed  forth, 
most  eager  to  strip  his  armour,  and  Hector  cast  at  him  as 
he  came  with  his  shining  spear.  But  Teukros,  steadily  re- 
garding him,  avoided  by  a  little  the  spear  of  bronze ;  so  Hector 
struck  Amphimachos,  son  of  Kteatos,  son  of  Aktor,  in  the 
breast  with  the  spear,  as  he  was  returning  to  the  battle.  With 
a  crash  he  fell,  and  his  armour  rang  upon  him. 

Then  Hector  sped  forth  to  tear  from  the  head  of  great- 
hearted Amphimachos  the  helmet  closely  fitted  to  his  temples, 
but  Aias  aimed  at  Hector  as  he  came,  with  a  shining  spear, 
yet  in  no  wise  touched  his  body,  for  he  was  all  clad  in  dread 
armour  of  bronze ;  but  he  smote  the  boss  of  his  shield,  and 
drave  him  back  by  main  force,  and  he  gave  place  from  behind 
the  two  dead  men,  and  the  Achaians  drew  them  out  of  the 
battle.  So  Sticbios  and  goodly  Menestheus,  leaders  of  the 
Athenians,  conveyed  Amphimachos  back  among  the  host  of 
the  Achaians,  but  Imbrios  the  two  Aiantes  carried,  with 
hearts  full  of  impetuous  might.  And  as  when  two  lions  have 
snatched  away  a  goat  from  sharp-toothed  hounds,  and  carry 
it  through  the  deep  thicket,  holding  the  body  on  high  above 
the  ground  in  their  jaws,  so  the  two  warrior  Aiantes  held 
Imbrios  aloft  and  spoiled  his  arms.  Then  the  son  of  Oileus 
cut  his  head  from  his  delicate  neck,  in  wrath  for  the  sake  of 
Amphimachos,  and  sent  it  rolling  like  a  ball  through  the 
throng,  and  it  dropped  in  the  dust  before  the  feet  of  Hector. 

Then  verily  was  Poseidon  wroth  at  heart,  when  his  son's 


232  HOMER 

son  fell  in  the  terrible  fray.^  So  he  set  forth  to  go  by  the  huts 
and  the  ships  of  the  Achaians,  to  spur  on  the  Danaans,  and  sor- 
rows he  was  contriving  for  the  Trojans.  Then  Idomeneus, 
spearman  renowned,  met  him  on  his  way  from  his  comrade 
that  had  but  newly  returned  to  him  out  of  the  battle,  wounded 
on  the  knee  with  the  sharp  bronze.  Him  his  comrades  carried 
forth,  and  Idomeneus  gave  charge  to  the  leeches,  and  so  went 
on  to  his  hut,  for  he  still  was  eager  to  face  the  war.  Then  the 
mighty  Shaker  of  the  earth  addressed  him,  in  the  voice  of 
Thoas,  son  of  Andraimon,  that  ruled  over  the  Aitolians  in  all 
Pleuron,  and  mountainous  Kalydon,  and  was  honoured  like 
a  god  by  the  people :  "Idomeneus,  thou  counsellor  of  the  Cre- 
tans, say,  whither  have  thy  threats  fared,  wherewith  the  sons 
of  the  Achaians  threatened  the  Trojans?" 

Then  Idomeneus,  leader  of  the  Cretans,  answered  him 
again :  "O  Thoas,  now  is  there  no  man  to  blame,  that  I  wot 
of,  for  we  all  are  skilled  in  war.  Neither  is  there  any  man 
that  spiritless  fear  holds  aloof,  nor  any  that  gives  place  to  cow- 
ardice, and  shuns  the  cruel  war,  nay,  but  even  thus,  methinks, 
must  it  have  seemed  good  to  almighty  Kronion,  even  that  the 
Achaians  should  perish  nameless  here,  far  away  from  Argos. 
But  Thoas,  seeing  that  of  old  thou  wert  staunch,  and  dost  spur 
on  some  other  man,  wheresoever  thou  mayst  see  any  give 
ground,  therefore  slacken  not  now,  but  call  aloud  to  every 
warrior." 

Then  Poseidon,  the  Shaker  of  the  earth,  answered  him 
again:  "Idomeneus,  never  may  that  man  go  forth  out  of 
Troy-land,  but  here  may  he  be  the  sport  of  dogs,  who  this  day 
wilfully  is  slack  in  battle.  Nay,  come,  take  thy  weapons  and 
away :  herein  we  must  play  the  man  together,  if  any  avail  there 
may  be,  though  we  are  no  more  than  two.  Ay,  and  very 
cowards  get  courage  from  company,  but  we  twain  know  well 
how  to  battle  even  with  the  brave." 

Therewith  the  god  went  back  again  into  the  strife  of  men, 
but  Idomeneus,  so  soon  as  he  came  to  his  well-builded  hut,  did 
on  his  fair  armour  about  his  body,  and  grasped  two  spears,  and 
set  forth  like  the  lightning  that  Kronion  seizes  in  his  hand  and 


'  Kteatos,  father  of  Amphimachos,  was  Poseidon's  son. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  233 

brandishes  from  radiant  Olympus,  showing  forth  a  sign  to 
mortal  men,  and  far  seen  are  the  flames  thereof.  Even  so 
shone  the  bronze  about  the  breast  of  Idomeneus  as  he  ran,  and 
Meriones,  his  good  squire,  met  him,  while  he  was  still  near  his 
hut, — he  was  going  to  bring  his  spear  of  bronze, — and  mighty 
Idomeneus  spake  to  him:  "Meriones  son  of  Molos,  fleet  of 
foot,  dearest  of  my  company,  wherefore  hast  thou  come  hither 
and  left  the  war  and  strife?  Art  thou  wounded  at  all,  and 
vexed  by  a  dart's  point,  or  dost  thou  come  with  a  message  for 
me  concerning  aught?  Verily  I  myself  have  no  desire  to  sit 
in  the  huts,  but  to  fight." 

Then  wise  Meriones  answered  him  again,  saying:  "Ido- 
meneus, thou  counsellor  of  the  mail-clad  Cretans,  I  have  come 
to  fetch  a  spear,  if  perchance  thou  hast  one  left  in  the  huts,  for 
that  which  before  I  carried  I  have  shivered  in  casting  at  the 
shield  of  proud  Deiphobos." 

Then  Idomeneus,  leader  of  the  Cretans,  answered  him 
again:  "Spears,  if  thou  wilt,  thou  shalt  find,  one,  ay,  and 
twenty,  standing  in  the  hut,  against  the  shining  side  walls, 
spears  of  the  Trojans  whereof  I  have  spoiled  their  slain.  Yea, 
it  is  not  my  mood  to  stand  and  fight  with  foemen  from  afar, 
wherefore  I  have  spears,  and  bossy  shields,  and  helms,  and 
corslets  of  splendid  sheen." 

Then  wise  Meriones  answered  him  again:  "Yea,  and  in 
mine  own  hut  and  my  black  ship  are  many  spoils  of  the  Tro- 
jans, but  not  ready  to  my  hand.  Nay,  for  methinks  that 
neither  am  I  forgetful  of  valour;  but  stand  forth  among  the 
foremost  to  face  the  glorious  war,  whensoever  ariseth  the 
strife  of  battle.  Any  other,  methinks,  of  the  mail-clad 
Achaians  should  sooner  forget  my  prowess,  but  thou  art  he 
that  knoweth  it." 

Then  Idomeneus,  leader  of  the  Cretans,  answered  him 
again :  "I  know  what  a  man  of  valour  thou  art,  wherefore 
shouldst  thou  tell  me  thereof?  Nay,  if  now  beside  the  ships 
all  the  best  of  us  were  being  chosen  for  an  ambush — ^wherein 
the  valour  of  men  is  best  discerned ;  there  the  coward,  and  the 
brave  man  most  plainly  declare  themselves :  For  the  colour  of 
the  coward  changes  often,  and  his  spirit  cannot  abide  firm  with- 
in him,  but  now  he  kneels  on  one  knee,  now  on  the  other,  and 


234  HOMER 

rests  on  either  foot,  and  his  heart  beats  noisily  in  his  breast,  as 
he  thinks  of  doom,  and  his  teeth  chatter  loudly.  But  the  colour 
of  the  brave  man  does  not  change,  nor  is  he  greatly  afraid 
from  the  moment  that  he  enters  the  ambush  of  heroes,  but  his 
prayer  is  to  mingle  instantly  in  woful  war.  Were  we  being 
chosen  for  such  ambush,  I  say,  not  even  then  would  any  man 
reckon  lightly  of  thy  courage  and  thy  strength.  Nay,  and  even 
if  thou  wert  stricken  in  battle  from  afar,  or  smitten  in  close 
fight,  the  dart  would  not  strike  thee  in  the  hinder  part  of  the 
neck,  nor  in  the  back,  but  would  encounter  thy  breast  or  belly, 
as  thou  dost  press  on,  towards  the  gathering  of  the  foremost 
fighters.  But  come,  no  more  let  us  talk  thus,  like  children, 
loitering  here,  lest  any  man  be  vehemently  wroth,  but  go  thou 
to  the  hut,  and  bring  the  strong  spear." 

Thus  he  spake,  and  Meriones,  the  peer  of  swift  Ares, 
quickly  bare  the  spear  of  bronze  from  the  hut,  and  went  after 
Idomeneus,  with  high  thoughts  of  battle.  And  even  as  Ares, 
the  bane  of  men,  goes  forth  into  the  war,  and  with  him  follows 
his  dear  son  Panic,  stark  and  fearless,  that  terrifies  even  the 
hardy  warrior;  and  these  twain  leave  Thrace,  and  harness 
them  for  fight  with  the  Ephyri,  or  the  great-hearted  Phlegy- 
ans,  yet  hearken  not  to  both  peoples,  but  give  honour  to  one 
only;  like  these  gods  did  Meriones  and  Idomeneus,  leaders  of 
men,  set  forth  into  the  fight,  harnessed  in  gleaming  bronze. 
And  Meriones  spake  first  to  Idomeneus  saying:  "Child  of 
Deukalion,  whither  art  thou  eager  to  enter  into  the  throng: 
on  the  right  of  all  the  host,  or  in  the  centre,  or  on  the  left? 
Ay,  and  no  other  where,  methinks,  are  the  flowing-haired 
Achaians  so  like  to  fail  in  fight." 

Then  Idomeneus,  the  leader  of  the  Cretans,  answered  him 
again :  "In  the  centre  of  the  ships  there  are  others  to  bear  the 
brunt,  the  two  Aiantes,  and  Teukros,  the  best  bowman  of  the" 
Achaians,  ay,  and  a  good  man  in  close  fight;  these  will  give 
Hector  Priam's  son  toil  enough,  howsoever  keen  he  be  for  bat- 
tle; yea,  though  he  be  exceeding  stalwart.  Hard  will  he  find 
it,  with  all  his  lust  for  war,  to  overcome  their  strength  and  their 
hands  invincible,  and  to  fire  the  ships,  unless  Kronion  himself 
send  down  on  the  swift  ships  a  burning  brand.  But  not  to  a 
man  would  he  yield,  the  great  Telamonian  Aias,  to  a  man  that 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  235 

is  mortal  and  eateth  Demeter's  grain,  and  may  be  cloven  with 
the  sword  of  bronze,  and  with  hurling  of  great  stones.  Nay, 
not  even  to  Achilles  the  breaker  of  the  ranks  of  men  would  he 
give  way,  not  in  close  fight ;  but  for  speed  of  foot  none  may 
in  any  wise  strive  with  Achilles.  But  guide  us  twain,  as  thou 
sayest,  to  the  left  hand  of  the  host,  that  speedily  we  may  learn 
whether  we  are  to  win  glory  from  others,  or  other  men  from 
us." 

So  he  spake,  and  Meriones,  the  peer  of  swift  Ares,  led  the 
way,  till  they  came  to  the  host,  in  that  place  whither  he  bade 
him  go. 

And  when  the  Trojans  saw  Idomeneus,  strong  as  flame, 
and  his  squire  with  him,  and  their  glorious  armour,  they  all 
shouted  and  made  for  him  through  the  press.  Then  their 
mellay  began,  by  the  sterns  of  the  ships.  And  as  the  g^sts 
speed  on,  when  shrill  winds  blow,  on  a  day  when  dust  lies 
thickest  on  the  roads,  and  the  winds  raise  together  a  great  cloud 
of  dust,  even  so  their  battle  clashed  together,  and  all  were  fain 
of  heart  to  slay  each  other  in  the  press  with  the  keen  bronze. 
And  the  battle,  the  bane  of  men,  bristled  with  the  long  spears, 
the  piercing  spears  they  grasped,  and  the  glitter  of  bronze  from 
gleaming  helmets  dazzled  the  eyes,  and  the  sheen  of  new-bur- 
nished corslets,  and  shining  shields,  as  the  men  thronged  all 
together.  Right  hardy  of  heart  would  he  have  been  that  joyed 
and  sorrowed  not  at  the  sight  of  this  labour  of  battle. 

Thus  the  two  mighty  sons  of  Kronos,  with  contending  will, 
were  contriving  sorrow  and  anguish  for  the  heroes.  Zeus  de- 
sired victory  for  the  Trojans  and  Hector,  giving  glory  to  swift- 
footed  Achilles ;  yet  he  did  not  wish  the  Achaian  host  to  perish 
utterly  before  Ilios,  but  only  to  give  renown  to  Thetis  and  her 
strong-hearted  son.  But  Poseidon  went  among  the  Argives 
and  stirred  them  to  war,  stealing  secretly  forth  from  the  grey 
salt  sea :  for  he  was  sore  vexed  tliat  they  were  overcome  by  the 
Trojans,  and  was  greatly  in  wrath  against  Zeus.  Verily  both 
were  of  the  same  lineage  and  the  same  place  of  birth,  but  Zeus 
was  the  elder  and  the  wiser.  Therefore  also  Poseidon, avoided 
to  give  open  aid,  but  secretly  ever  he  spurred  them  on,  through- 
out the  host,  in  the  likeness  of  a  man.  These  twain  had  strained 
the  ends  of  the  cords  of  strong  strife  and  equal  war,  and  had 


236  HOMER 

stretched  them  over  both  Trojans  and  Achaians,  a  knot  that 
none  might  break  nor  undo,  for  the  loosening  of  the  knees  of 
many. 

Even  then  Idomeneus,  though  his  hair  was  flecked  with 
grey,  called  on  the  Danaans,  and  leaping  among  the  Trojans, 
roused  their  terror.  For  he  slew  Othryoneus  of  Kabesos,  a 
sojourner  there,  who  but  lately  had  followed  after  the  rumour 
of  war,  and  asked  in  marriage  the  fairest  of  the  daughters 
of  Priam,  Kassandra,  without  gifts  of  wooing,  but  with 
promise  of  a  mighty  deed,  namely  that  he  would  drive  perforce 
out  of  Troy-land  the  sons  of  the  Achaians,  To  him  the  old 
man  Priam  promised  and  appointed  that  he  would  give  her, 
so  he  fought  trusting  in  his  promises.  And  Idomeneus  aimed  at 
him  with  a  bright  spear,  and  cast  and  smote  him  as  he  came 
proudly  striding  on,  and  the  corslet  of  bronze  that  he  wore 
availed  not,  but  the  lance  stuck  in  the  midst  of  his  belly. 
And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  Idomeneus  boasted  over  him,  and 
lifted  up  his  voice,  saying:  "Othryoneus,  verily  I  praise  thee 
above  all  mortal  men,  if  indeed  thou  shalt  accomplish  all  that 
thou  hast  promised  to  Priam,  son  of  Dardanos,  that  pro- 
mised thee  again  his  own  daughter.  Yea,  and  we  likewise 
would  promise  as  much  to  thee,  and  fulfil  it,  and  would  give 
thee  the  fairest  daughter  of  the  son  of  Atreus,  and  bring  her 
from  Argos,  and  wed  her  to  thee,  if  only  thou  wilt  aid  us  to 
take  the  fair-set  citadel  of  Ilios.  Nay,  follow  us  that  we 
may  make  a  covenant  of  marriage  by  the  seafaring  ships,  for 
we  are  no  hard  exacters  of  gifts  of  wooing." 

Therewith  the  hero  Idomeneus  dragged  him  by  the  foot 
across  the  fierce  mellay.  But  Asios  came  to  his  aid,  on  foot 
before  his  horses  that  the  charioteer  guided  so  that  still  their 
breath  touched  the  shoulders  of  Asios.  And  the  desire  of  his 
heart  was  to  cast  at  Idomeneus,  who  was  beforehand  with 
him,  and  smote  him  with  the  spear  in  the  throat,  below  the 
chin,  and  drove  the  point  straight  through.  And  he  fell  as 
an  oak  falls,  or  a  poplar,  or  tall  pine  tree,  that  craftsmen  have 
felled  on  the  hills  with  new  whetted  axes,  to  be  a  ship's  timber, 
even  so  he  lay  stretched  out  before  the  horses  and  the  chariot, 
groaning,  and  clutching  the  bloody  dust.  And  the  charioteer 
was  amazed,  and  kept  not  his  wits,  as  of  old,  and  dared  not 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  237 

turn  his  horses  and  avoid  out  of  the  hands  of  foemen ;  and 
Antilochos  the  steadfast  in  war  smote  him,  and  pierced  the 
middle  of  his  body  with  a  spear.  Nothing  availed  the  corslet 
of  bronze  he  was  wont  to  wear,  but  he  planted  the  spear  fast 
in  the  midst  of  his  belly.  Therewith  he  fell  gasping  from  the 
well-wrought  chariot,  and  Antilochos,  the  son  of  great-hearted 
Nestor,  drave  the  horses  out  from  the  Trojans,  among  the 
well-greaved  Achaians.  Then  Deiphobos,  in  sorrow  for  Asios, 
drew  very  nigh  Idomeneus,  and  cast  at  him  with  his  shining 
spear.  But  Idomeneus  steadily  watching  him,  avoided  the 
spear  of  bronze,  being  hidden  beneath  the  circle  of  his  shield, 
the  shield  covered  about  with  ox-hide  and  gleaming  bronze, 
that  he  always  bore,  fitted  with  two  arm-rods :  under  this  he 
crouched  together,  and  the  spear  of  bronze  flew  over.  And 
his  shield  rang  sharply,  as  the  spear  grazed  thereon.  Yet  it 
flew  not  vainly  from  the  heavy  hand  of  Deiphobos,  but  smote 
Hypsenor,  son  of  Hippasos,  the  shepherd  of  the  hosts,  in  the 
liver,  beneath  the  midriff,  and  instantly  unstrung  his  knees. 
And  Deiphobos  boasted  over  him  terribly,  crying  aloud :  "Ah, 
verily,  not  unavenged  lies  Asios,  nay,  methinks,  that  even  on 
his  road  to  Hades,  strong  Warden  of  the  gate,  he  will  rejoice 
at  heart,  since,  lo,  I  have  sent  him  escort  for  the  way !" 

So  spake  he,  but  grief  came  on  the  Argives  by  reason  of 
his  boast,  and  stirred  above  all  the  soul  of  the  wise-hearted 
Antilochos,  yet,  despite  his  sorrow,  he  was  not  heedless  of 
his  dear  comrade,  but  ran  and  stood  over  him,  and  covered 
him  with  his  buckler.  Then  two  trusty  companions,  Mekis- 
teus,  son  of  Echios,  and  goodly  Alastor,  stooped  down  and 
lifted  him,  and  with  heavy  groaning  bare  him  to  the  hollow 
ships. 

And  Idomeneus  relaxed  not  his  mighty  force,  but  ever 
was  striving,  either  to  cover  some  one  of  the  Trojans  with 
black  night,  or  himself  to  fall  in  warding  of¥  death  from  the 
Achaians.  There  the  dear  son  of  Aisyetes,  fosterling  of  Zeus, 
even  the  hero  Alkathoos,  was  slain,  who  was  son-in-law  of 
Anchises,  and  had  married  the  eldest  of  his  daughters,  Hip- 
podameia,  whom  her  father  and  her  lady  mother  dearly  loved 
in  the  halls,  for  she  excelled  all  the  maidens  of  her  age  in 
beauty,  and  skill,  and  in  wisdom,  wherefore  the  best  man  in 


238  HOMER 

wide  Troy  took  her  to  wife.  This  Alkathoos  did  Poseidon 
subdue  to  Idomeneus,  throwing  a  spell  over  his  shining  eyes, 
and  snaring  his  glorious  limbs;  so  that  he  might  neither  flee 
backwards,  nor  avoid  the  stroke,  but  stood  steady  as  a  pillar, 
or  a  tree  with  lofty  crown  of  leaves,  when  the  hero  Ido- 
meneus smote  him  in  the  midst  of  the  breast  with  the  spear, 
and  rent  the  coat  of  bronze  about  him,  that  aforetime  warded 
death  from  his  body,  but  now  rang  harsh  as  it  was  rent  by 
the  spear.  And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  the  lance  fixed  in 
his  heart,  that,  still  beating,  shook  the  butt-end  of  the  spear. 
Then  at  length  mighty  Ares  spent  its  fury  there;  but  Ido- 
meneus boasted  terribly,  and  cried  aloud:  "Deiphobos,  are 
we  to  deem  it  fair  acquittal  that  we  have  slain  three  men  for 
one,  since  thou  boastest  thus?  Nay,  sir,  but  stand  thou  up 
also  thyself  against  me,  that  thou  mayst  know  what  manner 
of  son  of  Zeus  am  I  that  have  come  hither!  For  Zeus  first 
begat  Minos,  the  warden  of  Crete,  and  Minos  got  him  a  son, 
the  noble  Deukalion,  and  Deukalion  begat  me,  a  prince  over 
many  men  in  wide  Crete,  and  now  have  the  ships  brought  me 
hither,  a  bane  to  thee  and  thy  father,  and  all  the  Trojans." 

Thus  he  spake,  but  the  thoughts  of  Deiphobos  were 
divided,  whether  he  should  retreat,  and  call  to  his  aid  some 
one  of  the  great-hearted  Trojans,  or  should  try  the  adventure 
alone.  And  on  this  wise  to  his  mind  it  seemed  the  better, 
to  go  after  Aineias,  whom  he  found  standing  the  last  in  the 
press,  for  Aineias  was  ever  wroth  against  goodly  Priam,  for 
that  Priam  gave  him  no  honour,  despite  his  valour  among 
men.  So  Deiphobos  stood  by  him,  and  spake  winged  words 
to  him :  "Aineias,  thou  counsellor  of  the  Trojans,  now  verily 
there  is  great  need  that  thou  shouldst  succour  thy  sister's 
husband,  if  any  care  for  kin  doth  touch  thee.  Nay  follow, 
let  us  succour  Alkathoos,  thy  sister's  husband,  who  of  old 
did  cherish  thee  in  his  hall,  while  thou  wert  but  a  little  one, 
and  now,  lo,  spear-famed  Idomeneus  hath  stripped  him  of  his 
arms !" 

So  he  spake,  and  roused  the  spirit  in  the  breast  of  Aineias, 
who  went  to  seek  Idomeneus,  with  high  thoughts  of  war.  But 
fear  took  not  hold  upon  Idomeneus,  as  though  he  had  been 
some  tender  boy,  but  he  stood  at  bay,  like  a  boar  on  the  hills 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XIII  239 

that  trusteth  to  his  strength,  and  abides  the  great  assaihng 
throng  of  men  in  a  lonely  place,  and  he  bristles  up  his  back, 
and  his  eyes  shine  with  fire,  while  he  whets  his  tusks,  and  is 
right  eager  to  keep  at  bay  both  men  and  hounds.  Even  so 
stood  spear-famed  Idomeneus  at  bay  against  Aineias,  that 
came  to  the  rescue,  and  gave  ground  no  whit,  but  called  on 
his  comrades,  glancing  to  Askalaphos,  and  Aphareus,  and 
Deipyros,  and  Meriones,  and  Antilochos,  all  masters  of  the 
war-cry;  them  he  spurred  up  to  battle,  and  spake  winged 
words:  "Hither,  friends,  and  rescue  me,  all  alone  as  I  am, 
and  terribly  I  dread  the  onslaught  of  swift-footed  Aineias, 
that  is  assailing  me;  for  he  is  right  strong  to  destroy  men  in 
battle,  and  he  hath  the  flower  of  youth,  the  greatest  avail  that 
may  be.  Yea,  if  he  and  I  were  of  like  age,  and  in  this  spirit 
whereof  now  we  are,  speedily  should  he  or  I  achieve  high 
victory." 

So  he  spake,  and  the)'^  all,  being  of  one  spirit  in  their 
hearts,  stood  hard  by  each  other,  with  buckler  laid  on  shoulder. 
But  Aineias,  on  the  other  side,  cried  to  his  comrades,  glancing 
to  Deiphobos,  and  Paris,  and  noble  Agenor,  that  with  him  were 
leaders  of  the  Trojans;  and  then  the  hosts  followed  them,  as 
sheep  follow  their  leader  to  the  water  from  the  pasture,  and 
the  shepherd  is  glad  at  heart ;  even  so  the  heart  of  Aineias 
was  glad  in  his  breast,  when  he  saw  the  hosts  of  the  people 
following  to  aid  him. 

Then  they  rushed  in  close  fight  around  Alkathoos  with 
their  long  spears,  and  round  their  breasts  the  bronze  rang 
terribly,  as  they  aimed  at  each  other  in  the  press,  while 
two  men  of  war  beyond  the  rest,  Aineias  and  Idomeneus,  the 
peers  of  Ares,  were  each  striving  to  hew  the  flesh  of  the  other 
with  the  pitiless  bronze.  Now  Aineias  first  cast  at  Idomeneus, 
who  steadily  watching  him  avoided  the  spear  of  bronze,  and 
the  point  of  Aineias  went  quivering  in  the  earth,  since  vainly 
it  had  flown  from  his  stalwart  hand.  But  Idomeneus  smote 
Oinomaos  iti  the  midst  of  the  belly,  and  brake  the  plate  of  his 
corslet,  and  the  bronze  let  forth  the  bowels  through  the  corslet, 
and  he  fell  in  the  dust  and  clutched  the  earth  in  his  palms. 
And  Idomeneus  drew  forth  the  far-shadowing  spear  from  the 
dead,  but  could  not  avail  to  strip  the  rest  of  the  fair  armour 


240  HOMER 

from  his  shoulders,  for  the  darts  pressed  hard  on  him.  Nay, 
and  his  feet  no  longer  served  him  firmly  in  a  charge,  nor 
could  he  rush  after  his  own  spear,  nor  avoid  the  foe.  Where- 
fore in  close  fight  he  still  held  oflF  the  pitiless  day  of  destiny, 
but  in  retreat  his  feet  no  longer  bore  him  swiftly  from  the 
battle.  And  as  he  was  slowly  departing,  Deiphobos  aimed  at 
him  with  his  shining  spear,  for,  verily  he  ever  cherished  a 
steadfast  hatred  against  Idomeneus.  But  this  time,  too,  he 
missed  him,  and  smote  Askalaphos,  the  son  of  Enyalios,  with 
his  dart,  and  the  strong  spear  passed  through  his  shoulder,  and 
he  fell  in  the  dust,  and  clutched  the  earth  in  his  outstretched 
hand.  But  loud-voiced  awful  Ares  was  not  yet  aware  at  all 
that  his  son  had  fallen  in  strong  battle,  but  he  was  reclining 
on  the  peak  of  Olympus,  beneath  the  golden  clouds,  being 
held  there  by  the  design  of  Zeus,  where  also  were  the  other 
deathless  gods,  restrained  from  the  war. 

Now  the  people  rushed  in  close  fight  around  Askalaphos, 
and  Deiphobos  tore  from  Askalaphos  his  shining  helm,  but 
Meriones,  the  peer  of  swift  Ares,  leaped  forward  and  smote 
the  arm  of  Deiphobos  with  his  spear,  and  from  his  hand  the 
vizored  casque  fell  clanging  to  the  ground.  And  Meriones 
sprang  forth  instantly,  like  a  vulture,  and  drew  the  strong 
spear  from  the  shoulder  of  Deiphobos,  and  fell  back  among 
the  throng  of  his  comrades.  But  the  own  brother  of  Deipho- 
bos, Polites,  stretched  his  hands  round  his  waist,  and  led  him 
forth  from  the  evil  din  of  war,  even  till  he  came  to  the  swift 
horses,  that  waited  for  him  behind  the  battle  and  the  fight, 
with  their  charioteer,  and  well-dight  chariot.  These  bore  him 
heavily  groaning  to  the  city,  worn  with  his  hurt,  and  the 
blood  ran  down  from  his  newly  wounded  arm. 

But  the  rest  still  were  fighting,  and  the  war-cry  rose 
unquenched.  There  Aineias  rushed  on  Aphareus,  son  of 
Kaletor,  and  struck  his  throat,  that  chanced  to  be  turned  to 
him,  with  the  keen  spear,  and  his  head  dropped  down  and 
his  shield  and  helm  fell  with  him,  and  death  that  slays  the 
spirit  overwhelmed  him.  And  Antilochos  watched  Thoon  as 
he  turned  the  other  way,  and  leaped  on  him,  and  wounded  him, 
severing  all  the  vein  that  runs  up  the  back  till  it  reaches  the 
neck ;  this  he  severed  clean,  and  Thoon  fell  on  his  back  in  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XIII  241 

dust,  stretching  out  both  his  hands  to  his  comrades  dear.  Then 
Antilochos  rushed  on,  and  stripped  the  armour  from  his 
shoulders,  glancing  around  while  the  Trojans  gathered  from 
here  and  there,  and  smote  his  wide  shining  shield,  yet  did  not 
avail  to  graze,  behind  the  shield,  the  delicate  flesh  of  Antilochos 
with  the  pitiless  bronze.  For  verily  Poseidon,  the  Shaker  of 
the  earth,  did  guard  on  every  side  the  son  of  Nestor,  even 
in  the  midst  of  the  javelins.  And  never  did  Antilochos  get 
free  of  the  foe,  but  turned  him  about  among  them,  nor  ever 
was  his  spear  at  rest,  but  always  brandished  and  shaken,  and 
the  aim  of  his  heart  was  to  smite  a  foeman  from  afar,  or  to 
set  on  him  at  close  quarters.  But  as  he  was  aiming  through 
the  crowd,  he  escaped  not  the  ken  of  Adamas,  son  of  Asios, 
who  smote  the  midst  of  his  shield  with  the  sharp  bronze, 
setting  on  nigh  at  hand ;  but  Poseidon  of  the  dark  locks  made 
his  shaft  of  no  avail,  grudging  him  the  life  of  Antilochos. 
And  part  of  the  spear  abode  there,  like  a  burned  stake,  in  the 
shield  of  Antilochos,  and  half  lay  on  the  earth,  and  back 
retreated  Adamas  to  the  ranks  of  his  comrades,  avoiding 
Fate.  But  Meriones  follov/ing  after  him  as  he  departed, 
smote  him  with  a  spear  between  the  privy  parts  and  the  navel, 
where  a  wound  is  most  baneful  to  wretched  mortals.  Even 
there  he  fixed  the  spear  in  him  and  he  fell,  and  writhed  about 
the  spear,  even  as  a  bull  that  herdsmen  on  the  hills  drag  along 
perforce  when  they  have  bound  him  with  withes,  so  he  when 
he  was  smitten  writhed  for  a  moment,  not  for  long,  till  the 
hero  Meriones  came  near,  and  drew  the  spear  out  of  his  body. 
And  darkness  covered  his  eyes. 

And  Helenos  in  close  fight  smote  Deipyros  on  the  temple, 
with  a  great  Thracian  sword,  and  tore  away  the  helm,  and 
the  helm,  being  dislodged,  fell  on  the  ground,  and  one  of  the 
Achaians  in  the  fight  picked  it  up  as  it  rolled  between  his  feet. 
But  dark  night  covered  the  eyes  of  Deipyros. 

Then  grief  took  hold  of  the  son  of  Atrcus,  Menelaos  of 
the  loud  war-cry,  and  he  went  with  a  threat  against  the  war- 
rior Helenos,  the  prince,  shaking  his  sharp  spear,  while  the 
other  drew  the  centre-piece  of  his  bow.  And  both  at  once 
were  making  ready  to  let  fly,  one  with  his  sharp  spear,  the 
other  with  the  arrow  from  the  string.    Then  the  son  of  Priam 


242  HOMER 

smote  Menelaos  on  the  breast  with  his  arrow,  on  the  plate 
of  the  corslet,  and  off  flew  the  bitter  arrow.  Even  as  from  a 
broad  shovel  in  a  great  threshing  floor,  fly  the  black-skinned 
beans  and  pulse,  before  the  whistling  wind,  and  the  stress  of 
the  winnower's  shovel,  even  so  from  the  corslet  of  renowned 
Menelaos  flew  glancing  far  aside  the  bitter  arrow.  But  the 
son  of  Atreus,  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry,  smote  the 
hand  of  Helenos  wherein  he  held  the  polished  bow,  and  into 
the  bow,  clean  through  the  hand,  was  driven  the  spear  of 
bronze.  Back  he  withdrew  to  the  ranks  of  his  comrades, 
avoiding  Fate,  with  his  hand  hanging  down  at  his  side,  for 
the  ashen  spear  dragged  after  him.  And  the  great-hearted 
Agenor  drew  the  spear  from  his  hand,  and  himself  bound  up 
the  hand  with  a  band  of  twisted  sheep's-wool,  a  sling  that  a 
squire  carried  for  him,  the  shepherd  of  the  host. 

Then  Peisandros  made  straight  for  renowned  Menelaos, 
but  an  evil  Fate  was  leading  him  to  the  end  of  Death;  by 
thee,  Menelaos,  to  be  overcome  in  the  dread  strife  of  battle. 
Now  when  the  twain  had  come  nigh  in  onset  upon  each  other, 
the  son  of  Atreus  missed,  and  his  spear  was  turned  aside, 
but  Peisandros  smote  the  shield  of  renowned  Menelaos,  yet 
availed  not  to  drive  the  bronze  clean  through,  for  the  wide 
shield  caught  it,  and  the  spear  brake  in  the  socket,  yet 
Peisandros  rejoiced  in  his  heart,  and  hoped  for  the  victory. 
But  the  son  of  Atreus  drew  his  silver-studded  sword,  and 
leaped  upon  Peisandros.  And  Peisandros,  under  his  shield, 
clutched  his  goodly  axe  of  fine  bronze,  with  long  and  polished 
haft  of  olive-wood,  and  the  twain  set  upon  each  other.  Then 
Peisandros  smote  the  crest  of  the  helmet  shaded  with  horse 
hair,  close  below  the  very  plume,  but  Menelaos  struck  the 
other,  as  he  came  forward,  on  the  brow,  above  the  base  of  the 
nose,  and  the  bones  cracked,  and  the  eyes,  all  bloody,  fell  at 
his  feet  in  the  dust.  Then  he  bowed  and  fell,  and  Menelaos 
set  his  foot  on  his  breast,  and  stripped  him  of  his  arms,  and 
triumphed,  saying:  "Even  thus  then  surely,  ye  will  leave 
the  ships  of  the  Danaans  of  the  swift  steeds,  ye  Trojans  over- 
weening, insatiate  of  the  dread  din  of  war.  Yea,  and  ye  shall 
not  lack  all  other  reproof  and  shame,  wherewith  ye  made  me 
ashamed,  ye  hounds  of  evil,  having  no  fear  in  your  hearts  of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  243 

the  strong  wrath  of  loud-thundering  Zeus,  the  god  of  guest 
and  host,  who  one  day  will  destroy  your  steep  citadel.  O  ye 
that  wantonly  carried  away  my  wedded  wife  and  many  of  my 
possessions,  when  ye  were  entertained  by  her,  now  again  ye 
are  fain  to  throw  ruinous  fire  on  the  seafaring  ships,  and  to 
slay  the  Achaian  heroes.  Nay,  but  ye  will  yet  refrain  you 
from  battle,  for  as  eager  as  ye  be.  O  father  Zeus,  verily  they 
say  that  thou  dost  excel  in  wisdom  all  others,  both  gods  and 
men,  and  all  these  things  are  from  thee.  How  wondrously 
art  thou  favouring  men  of  violence,  even  the  Trojans,  whose 
might  is  ever  iniquitous,  nor  can  they  have  their  fill  of  the  din 
of  equal  war.  Of  all  things  there  is  satiety,  yea,  even  of 
love  and  sleep,  and  of  sweet  song,  and  dance  delectable, 
whereof  a  man  would  sooner  have  his  fill  than  of  war,  but 
the  Trojans  are  insatiable  of  battle." 

Thus  noble  Menelaos  spake,  and  stripped  the  bloody  arms 
from  the  body,  and  gave  them  to  his  comrades,  and  instantly 
himself  went  forth  again,  and  mingled  in  the  forefront  of  the 
battle.  Then  Harpalion,  the  son  of  king  Pylaimenes,  leaped 
out  against  him,  Harpalion  that  followed  his  dear  father  to 
Troy,  to  the  war,  nor  ever  came  again  to  his  own  country. 
He  then  smote  the  middle  of  the  shield  of  Atreus'  son  with 
his  spear,  in  close  fight,  yet  availed  not  to  drive  the  bronze  clean 
through,  but  fell  back  into  the  host  of  his  comrades,  avoiding 
Fate,  glancing  round  every  way,  lest  one  should  wound 
his  flesh  with  the  bronze.  But  Meriones  shot  at  him  as  he 
retreated  with  a  bronze-shod  arrow,  and  smote  him  in  the 
right  buttock,  and  the  arrow  went  right  through  the  bladder 
and  came  out  under  the  bone.  And  sitting  down,  even  there, 
in  the  arms  of  his  dear  comrades,  he  breathed  away  his  soul, 
lying  stretched  like  a  worm  on  the  earth,  and  out  flowed  the 
black  blood,  and  wetted  the  ground.  And  the  Paphlagonians 
great  of  heart,  tended  him  busily,  and  set  him  in  a  chariot, 
and  drove  him  to  sacred  Ilios  sorrowing,  and  with  them  went 
his  father,  shedding  tears,  and  there  was  no  atonement  for 
his  dead  son. 

Now  Paris  was  very  wroth  at  heart  by  reason  of  his  slay- 
ing, for  he  had  been  his  host  among  the  many  Paphlagonians, 
wherefore,  in  wrath  for  his  sake,  he  let  fly  a  bronze-shod 


244  HOMER 

arrow.  Now  there  was  a  certain  Euchenor,  the  son  of 
Polyidos  the  seer,  a  rich  man  and  a  good,  whose  dwelhng  was 
in  Corinth.  And  well  he  knew  his  own  ruinous  fate,  when 
he  went  on  ship-board,  for  often  would  the  old  man,  the  good 
Polyidos,  tell  him,  that  he  must  either  perish  of  a  sore  disease 
in  his  halls,  or  go  with  the  ships  of  the  Achaians,  and  be 
overcome  by  the  Trojans.  Wherefore  he  avoided  at  once  the 
heavy  war-fine  of  the  Achaians,  and  the  hateful  disease,  that 
so  he  might  not  know  any  anguish.  This  man  did  Paris  smite 
beneath  the  jaw  and  under  the  ear,  and  swiftly  his  spirit 
departed  from  his  limbs,  and,  lo,  dread  darkness  overshadowed 
him. 

So  they  fought  like  flaming  fire,  but  Hector,  beloved  of 
Zeus,  had  not  heard  nor  knew  at  all  that,  on  the  left  of  the 
ships,  his  host  was  being  subdued  by  the  Argives,  and  soon 
would  the  Achaians  have  won  renown,  so  mighty  was  the 
Holder  and  Shaker  of  the  earth  that  urged  on  the  Argives; 
yea,  and  himself  mightily  defended  them.  But  Hector  kept 
where  at  first  he  had  leaped  within  the  walls  and  the  gate,  and 
broken  the  serried  ranks  of  shield-bearing  Danaans,  even 
where  were  the  ships  of  Aias  and  Protesilaos,  drawn  up  on 
the  beach  of  the  hoary  sea,  while  above  the  wall  was  builded 
lowest,  and  thereby  chiefly  the  heroes  and  their  horses  were 
raging  in  battle. 

There  the  Boiotians,  and  lonians  with  trailing  tunics,  and 
Lokrians  and  Phthians  and  illustrious  Epeians  scarcely  availed 
to  stay  his  onslaught  on  the  ships,  nor  yet  could  they  drive 
back  from  them  noble  Hector,  like  a  flame  of  fire.  And  there 
were  the  picked  men  of  the  Athenians ;  among  them  Menestheus 
son  of  Peteos  was  the  leader;  and  there  followed  with  him 
Pheidas  and  Stichios,  and  brave  Bias,  while  the  Epeians  were 
led  by  Meges,  son  of  Phyleus,  and  Amphion  and  Drakios,  and 
in  front  of  the  Phthians  were  Medon,  and  Podarkes  resolute 
in  war.  Now  the  one,  Medon,  was  the  bastard  son  of  noble 
Oileus,  and  brother  of  Aias,  and  he  dwelt  in  Phylake,  far 
from  his  own  country,  for  that  he  had  slain  a  man,  the  brother 
of  his  stepmother  Eriopis,  wife  of  Oileus.  But  the  other, 
Podarkes,  was  the  son  of  Iphiklos  son  of  Phylakos,  and  they 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    Xill  245 

in  their  armour,  in  the  van  of  the  great-hearted  Phthians, 
were  defending  the  ships,  and  fighting  among  the  Boiotians. 

Now  never  at  all  did  Aias,  the  swift  son  of  Oileus,  depart 
from  the  side  of  Aias,  son  of  Telamon,  nay,  not  for  an  instant, 
but  even  as  in  fallow  land  two  Vv^ine-dark  oxen  with  equal 
heart  strain  at  the  shapen  plough,  and  round  the  roots  of 
their  horns  springeth  up  abundant  sweat,  and  nought  sunders 
them  but  the  polished  yoke,  as  they  labour  through  the  fur- 
row, till  the  end  of  the  furrow  brings  them  up,  so  stood  the 
two  Aiantes  close  by  each  other.  Now  verily  did  many  and 
noble  hosts  of  his  comrades  follow  with  the  son  of  Telamon, 
and  bore  his  shield  when  labour  and  sweat  came  upon  his 
limbs.  But  the  Lokrians  followed  not  with  the  high-hearted 
son  of  Oileus,  for  their  hearts  were  not  steadfast  in  close 
brunt  of  battle,  seeing  that  they  had  no  helmets  of  bronze, 
shadowy  with  horse-hair  plumes,  nor  round  shields,  nor  ashen 
spears,  but  trusting  in  bows  and  well-twisted  slings  of  sheep's 
wool,  they  followed  with  him  to  Ilios.  Therewith,  in  the  war, 
they  shot  thick  and  fast,  and  brake  the  ranks  of  the  Trojans. 
So  the  one  party  in  front,  with  their  well-dight  arms  contended 
with  the  Trojans,  and  with  Hector  arrayed  in  bronze,  while 
the  others  from  behind  kept  shooting  from  their  ambush,  and 
the  Trojans  lost  all  memory  of  the  joy  of  battle,  for  the  arrows 
confounded  them. 

There  then  right  ruefully  from  the  ships  and  the  huts 
would  the  Trojans  have  withdrawn  to  windy  Ilios,  had  not 
Polydamas  come  near  valiant  Hector  and  said:  "Hector, 
thou  art  hard  to  be  persuaded  by  them  that  would  counsel 
thee;  for  that  god  has  given  thee  excellence  in  the  works  of 
war,  therefore  in  council  also  thou  art  fain  to  excel  other 
men  in  knowledge.  But  in  nowise  wilt  thou  be  able  to  take 
everything  on  thyself.  For  to  one  man  has  god  given  for  his 
portion  the  works  of  war,  to  another  the  dance,  to  another 
the  lute  and  song,  but  in  the  heart  of  yet  another  hath  far- 
seeing  Zeus  placed  an  excellent  understanding,  whereof  many 
men  get  gain,  yea  he  saveth  many  an  one,  and  himself  best 
knoweth  it.  But,  lo,  I  will  speak  even  as  it  seemeth  best  to 
me.  Behold  all  about  thee  the  circle  of  war  is  blazing,  but 
the  great-hearted  Trojans,  now  that  they  have  got  down  the 


246  HOMER 

wall,  are  some  with  their  arms  standing  aloof  and  some  are 
fighting,  few  men  against  a  host,  being  scattered  among  the 
ships.  Nay,  withdraw  thee,  and  call  hither  all  the  best  of  the 
warriors.  Thereafter  shall  we  take  all  counsel  carefully, 
whether  we  should  fall  on  the  ships  of  many  benches,  if  indeed 
god  willeth  to  give  us  victory,  or  after  counsel  held,  should 
return  unharmed  from  the  ships.  For  verily  I  fear  lest  the 
Achaians  repay  their  debt  of  yesterday,  since  by  the  ships 
there  tarrieth  a  man  insatiate  of  war,  and  never,  methinks, 
will  he  wholly  stand  aloof  from  battle." 

So  spake  Polydamas,  and  his  safe  counsel  pleased  Hector 
well,  who  straightway  sprang  to  earth  from  the  chariot  with 
his  arms,  and  spake  to  him  winged  words  and  said:  "Poly- 
damas, do  thou  stay  here  all  the  best  of  the  host,  but  I  will 
go  thither  to  face  the  war,  and  swiftly  will  return  again,  when 
I  have  straitly  laid  on  them  my  commands." 

So  he  spake,  and  set  forth,  in  semblance  like  a  snowy 
mountain,  and  shouting  aloud  he  flew  through  the  Trojans 
and  allies.  And  they  all  sped  to  Polydamas,  the  kindly  son 
of  Panthoos,  when  they  heard  the  voice  of  Hector.  But  he 
went  seeking  Deiphobos,  and  the  strong  prince  Helenos,  and 
Adamas  son  of  Asios,  and  Asios  son  of  Hyrtakos,  among  the 
warriors  in  the  foremost  line,  if  anywhere  he  might  find  them. 
But  them  he  found  not  at  all  unharmed,  nor  free  of  bane,  but, 
lo,  some  among  the  sterns  of  the  ships  of  the  Achaians  lay 
lifeless,  slain  by  the  hands  of  the  Argives,  and  some  were 
within  the  wall  wounded  by  thrust  or  cast.  But  one  he  readily 
found,  on  the  left  of  the  dolorous  battle,  goodly  Alexandros, 
the  lord  of  fair-tressed  Helen,  heartening  his  comrades  and 
speeding  them  to  war.  And  he  drew  near  to  him,  and 
addressed  him  with  words  of  shame:  "Thou  evil  Paris, 
fairest  of  face,  thou  that  lustest  for  women,  thou  seducer, 
where,  prithee,  are  Deiphobos,  and  the  strong  prince  Helenos, 
and  Adamas  son  of  Asios,  and  Asios  son  of  Hyrtakos,  and 
where  is  Othryoneus?  Now  hath  all  high  IHos  perished  utterly. 
Now,  too,  thou  seest,  is  sheer  destruction  sure." 

Then  godlike  Alexandros  answered  him  again  saying: 
"Hector,  since  thy  mind  is  to  blame  one  that  is  blameless, 
some  other  day  might  I  rather  withdraw  me  from  the  war, 


PARIS  AND  HELEN 
From  a  painting  by  Jacques  Louis  David 
"So  Venus's  promise  is  made  good,  and  Priam  weakly  receives 

INTO    HIS    palace   THE   FATAL    BEAUTY    WHO    IS    TO    PROVE   THE    RUIN    OF 

THE  Trojan  fortunes." 

—Page  25. 


1^  ICR 

wall,  are  some  wit!.  ...s  standing  alo^f 

fighting,  few  men  u  <  host,  being  sc;i 

ships.    Nay,  wit'  and  call  hither  : 

warriors.     Ther-  ...*.i    we  take   all   co... 

whether  we  shoi  d  the  ships  of  many  bene 

god  willeth  '  ry,  or  after  coimsel  lit 

return  unha  ...  c...  .^hips.      For  verily  I  fci. 

Achaians  re  ir  debt  of  yesterday,  since  by 

there  tarrieth  s^  nian  insatiate  of  war,  and  never, 
will  he  wholly  stand  aloi>f  from  battle." 

So  spake  Poly  da  mas,  and  his  safe  counsel  pleased  Hector 
well,  who  straightway  sprang  to  earth  from  the  chariot 
his  arms,  and  spake  to  him  winged  words  and  said:  "i  u.y- 
damas,  do  thou  stay  here  all  the  best  of  the  host,  but  I  will 
,o  I  hi!  her  to  face  the  war,  and  swiftly  will  return  again,  when 
'■■■••'-■  '^traitly  laid  on  them  my  commands." 

e  spake,  and  set  forth,  in  semblance  like  a  snowy 
;nd  shouting  aloud  he  flew  through  the  Trojans 

heard  the  le 

and  the  strring  prince  1-ielenos,  and 

'   ''-  '    -       '  Hyrtakn:-   - •' 

e  he  nv 
:  led,  nor 

'A  I'hin  the  v.  >ne  he  readily 

'      '    t-  ,   Alexandros, 

comrades  and 

V   near  to   him,  and 

"Thou  evil   Paris. 

omen,  thou  seducer, 

where,  }  trong  prince  Helenos, 

*    '  '  of  Hyrt  i' 

'i')S  perish' 
Now,  too,  thou  n  sure." 

"Ht  me  that  is  blameless, 

s»fime  otheM'ff'^  wrovl  i^iryjioVfvjti  ^tt^tnJu^w  ^^'''tfrom  the  war, 

aarviajaa  yj5ca3w  MAia*!  <ivia  ,0000  sqam  ri  aamoaq  a'auviaV  o2" 
^0  vttuH  anT  avt)«q  or  ai  ohw  YxuAia  jata't  sht  aoAJAi  zm  otmi 

".f^aWuTHOH  MAioaT  aHT 


i 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIII  247 

since  my  mother  bare  not  even  me  wholly  a  coward.  For 
from  tlie  time  that  thou  didst  gather  the  battle  of  thy  com- 
rades about  the  ships,  from  that  hour  do  we  abide  here,  and 
war  with  the  Danaans  ceaselessly;  and  our  comrades  con- 
cerning whom  thou  inquirest  are  slain.  Only  Deiphobos  and 
the  strong  prince  Helenos  have  both  withdrawn,  both  of  them 
being  wounded  in  the  hand  with  long  spears,  for  Kronion 
kept  death  away  from  them.  But  now  lead  on,  wheresoever 
thy  heart  and  spirit  bid  thee,  and  we  will  follow  with  thee 
eagerly,  nor  methinks  shall  we  lack  for  valour,  as  far  as  we 
have  strength ;  but  beyond  his  strength  may  no  man  fight, 
howsoever  eager  he  be." 

So  spake  the  hero,  and  persuaded  his  brother's  heart,  and 
they  went  forth  where  the  war  and  din  were  thickest,  round 
Kebriones,  and  noble  Polydamas,  and  Phalkes,  and  Orthaios, 
and  godlike  Polyphetes,  and  Palmys,  and  Askanios,  and  Morys, 
son  of  Hippotion,  who  had  come  in  their  turn,  out  of  deep- 
soiled  Askanie,  on  the  morn  before,  and  now  Zeus  urged  them 
to  fight.  And  these  set  forth  like  the  blast  of  violent  winds, 
that  rushes  earthward  beneath  the  thunder  of  father  Zeus, 
and  with  marvellous  din  doth  mingle  with  the  salt  sea,  and 
therein  are  many  swelling  waves  of  the  loud  roaring  sea, 
arched  over  and  white  with  foam,  some  vanward,  others  in 
the  rear;  even  so  the  Trojans  arrayed  in  van  and  rear  and 
shining  with  bronze,  followed  after  their  leaders.  And  Hector 
son  of  Priam  was  leading  them,  the  peer  of  Ares,  the  bane  of 
men.  In  front  he  held  the  circle  of  his  shield,  thick  with  hides, 
and  plates  of  beaten  bronze,  and  on  his  temples  swayed  his 
shining  helm.  And  everywhere  he  went  in  advance  and  made 
trial  of  the  ranks,  if  perchance  they  would  yield  to  him  as  he 
charged  under  cover  of  his  shield.  But  he  could  not  confound 
the  heart  within  the  breast  of  the  Achaians.  And  Aias,  stalk- 
ing with  long  strides,  challenged  him  first:  "Sir,  draw  nigh, 
wherefore  dost  thou  vainly  try  to  dismay  the  Argives?  We 
are  in  no  wise  ignorant  of  war,  but  by  the  cruel  scourge  of 
Zeus  are  we  Achaians  vanquished.  Surely  now  thy  heart 
hopes  utterly  to  spoil  the  ships,  but  we  too  have  hands  pres- 
ently to  hold  our  own.  Verily  your  peopled  city  will  long  ere 
that  beneath  our  hands  be  taken  and  sacked.     But  for  thee,  I 


248  TTO^TER 

tell  thee  that  the  time  is  at  hand,  when  thou  shalt  pray  in 
thy  flight  to  father  Zeus,  and  tlie  other  immortal  gods,  that 
thy  f air-maned  steeds  may  be  fleeter  than  falcons :  thy  steeds 
that  are  to  bear  thee  to  the  city,  as  they  storm  in  dust  across 
the  plain." 

And  even  as  he  spake,  a  bird  flew  forth  on  the  right  hand, 
an  eagle  of  lofty  flight,  and  the  host  of  the  Achaians  shouted 
thereat,  encouraged  by  the  omen,  but  renowned  Hector 
answered :  "Aias,  thou  blundering  boaster,  what  sayest  thou ! 
Would  that  indeed  I  were  for  ever  as  surely  the  son  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus,  and  that  my  mother  were  lady  Hera,  and  that  I 
Vv'ere  held  in  such  honour  as  Apollo  and  Athene,  as  verily  this 
day  is  to  bring  utter  evil  on  all  the  Argives !  And  thou  among 
them  shalt  be  slain,  if  thou  hast  the  heart  to  await  my  long 
spear,  which  shall  rend  thy  lily  skin,  and  thou  shalt  glut  with 
thy  fat  and  flesh  the  birds  and  dogs  of  the  Trojans,  falling 
among  the  ships  of  the  Achaians." 

So  he  spake  and  led  the  way,  and  they  followed  with 
wondrous  din,  and  the  whole  host  shouted  behind.  And  the 
Argives  on  the  other  side  answered  with  a  shout,  and  forgot 
not  their  valiance,  but  abode  the  onslaught  of  the  bravest  of 
the  Trojans.  And  the  cry  of  the  two  hosts  went  up  through 
the  higher  air,  to  the  splendour  of  Zeus. 


BOOK  XIV 

How  Sleep  and  Hera  beguiled  Zeus  to  slumber  on  the  heights 
of  Ida,  and  Poseidon  spurred  on  the  Achaians  to  resist  Hector,  and 
how  Hector  was  wounded. 

Yet  the  cry  of  battle  escaped  not  Nestor,  albeit  at  his  wine, 
but  he  spake  winged  words  to  the  son  of  Asklepios :  "Bethink 
thee,  noble  Machaon,  what  had  best  be  done ;  lo,  louder  waxes 
the  cry  of  the  strong  warriors  by  the  ships.  Nay,  now  sit 
where  thou  art,  and  drink  the  bright  wine,  till  Hekamede  of  the 
fair  tresses  shall  heat  warm  water  for  the  bath,  and  wash  away 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIV  249 

the  clotted  blood,  but  I  will  speedily  go  forth  and  come  to  a 
place  of  outlook." 

Therewith  he  took  the  well- wrought  shield  of  his  son, 
horse-taming  Thrasymedes,  which  was  lying  in  the  hut,  all 
glistering  with  bronze,  for  the  son  had  the  shield  of  his  father. 
And  he  seized  a  strong  spear,  with  a  point  of  keen  bronze,  and 
stood  outside  the  hut,  and  straightway  beheld  a  deed  of  shame, 
the  Achaians  fleeing  in  rout,  and  the  high-hearted  Trojans 
driving  them,  and  the  wall  of  the  Achaians  was  overthrown. 
And  as  when  the  great  sea  is  troubled  with  a  dumb  wave,  and 
dimly  bodes  the  sudden  paths  of  the  shrill  winds,  but  is  still 
unmoved  nor  yet  rolled  forward  or  to  either  side,  until  some 
stately  gale  come  down  from  Zeus,  even  so  the  old  man  pon- 
dered,— his  mind  divided  this  way  and  that, — whether  he 
should  fare  into  the  press  of  the  Danaans  of  the  swift  steeds, 
or  go  after  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus,  shepherd  of  the  host. 
And  thus  as  he  pondered,  it  seemed  to  him  the  better  counsel 
to  go  to  the  son  of  Atreus.  Meanwhile  they  were  warring  and 
slaying  each  other,  and  the  stout  bronze  rang  about  their  bodies 
as  they  were  thrust  with  swords  and  double-pointed  spears. 

Now  the  kings,  the  fosterlings  of  Zeus,  encountered  Nes- 
tor, as  they  went  up  from  the  ships,  even  they  that  were 
wounded  with  the  bronze,  Tydeus'  son,  and  Odysseus,  and 
Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus.  For  far  apart  from  the  battle 
were  their  ships  drawn  up,  on  the  shore  of  the  grey  sea,  for 
these  were  the  first  they  had  drawn  up  to  the  plain,  but  had 
builded  the  wall  in  front  of  the  hindmost.  For  in  no  wise 
might  the  beach,  for  as  wide  as  it  was,  hold  all  the  ships,  and 
the  host  was  straitened.  Wherefore  they  drew  up  the  ships 
row  within  row,  and  filled  up  the  wide  mouth  of  all  the  shore 
that  the  headlands  held  between  them.  Therefore  the  kings 
were  going  together,  leaning  on  their  spears,  to  look  on  the  war 
and  fray,  and  the  heart  of  each  was  sore  within  his  breast. 
And  the  old  man  met  them,  even  Nestor,  and  caused  the  spirit 
to  fail  within  the  breasts  of  the  Achaians. 

And  mighty  Agamemnon  spake  and  accosted  him:  "O 
Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  great  glory  of  the  Achaians,  wherefore 
dost  thou  come  hither  and  hast  deserted  the  war,  the  bane  of 
men?     Lo,  I  fear  the  accomplishment  of  the  word  that  dread 


250  HOMER 

Hector  spake,  and  the  threat  wherewith  he  theatened  us,  speak- 
ing in  the  assembly  of  the  Trojans,  namely,  that  never  would 
he  return  to  Ilios  from  the  ships,  till  he  had  burned  the  ships 
with  fire,  and  slain  the  men.  Even  so  he  spake,  and,  lo,  now 
all  these  things  are  being  fulfilled.  Alas,  surely  even  the  other 
well-greaved  Achaians  store  wrath  against  me  in  their  hearts, 
like  Achilles,  and  have  no  desire  to  fight  by  the  rearmost  ships." 

Then  Nestor  of  Gerenia  the  knight  answered  him  saying: 
"Verily  these  things  are  now  at  hand,  and  being  accomplished, 
nor  otherwise  could  Zeus  himself  contrive  them,  he  that  thun- 
dereth  on  high.  For,  lo,  the  wall  is  overthrown,  wherein  we 
trusted  that  it  should  be  an  unbroken  bulwark  of  the  ships  and 
of  our  own  bodies.  And  these  men  by  the  swift  ships  have 
endless  battle  without  sparing,  and  no  more  couldst  thou  tell, 
howsoever  closely  thou  mightst  spy,  from  what  side  the 
Achaians  are  driven  in  rout,  so  confusedly  are  they  slain,  and 
the  cry  of  battle  gocth  up  to  heaven.  But  let  us  take  counsel, 
how  these  things  may  best  be  done,  if  wit  may  do  aught:  but 
into  the  war  I  counsel  not  that  we  should  go  down,  for  in  no 
wise  may  a  wounded  man  do  battle." 

Then  Agamemnon  king  of  men  answered  him  again: 
"Nestor,  for  that  they  are  warring  by  the  rearmost  ships,  and 
the  well-builded  wall  hath  availed  not,  nor  the  trench,  whereat 
the  Achaians  endured  so  much  labour,  hoping  in  their  hearts 
that  it  should  be  the  unbroken  bulwark  of  the  ships,  and  of  their 
own  bodies — such  it  seemeth  must  be  the  will  of  Zeus  supreme, 
that  the  Achaians  should  perish  here  nameless  far  from 
Agos.  For  I  knew  it  when  he  was  forwarded  to  aid  the 
Danaans,  and  now  I  know  that  lie  is  giving  to  the  Tro- 
jans glory  like  that  of  the  blessed  gods,  and  hath  bound  our 
hands  and  our  strength.  But  come,  as  I  declare,  let  us  all  obey. 
Let  us  drag  down  the  ships  that  are  drawn  up  in  the  first  line 
near  to  the  sea,  and  speed  them  all  forth  to  the  salt  sea  divine, 
and  moor  them  far  out  with  stones,  till  the  divine  night  comes, 
if  even  at  night  the  Trojans  will  refrain  from  war,  and  then 
might  we  drag  down  all  the  ships.  For  there  is  no  shame  in 
fleeing  from  ruin,  yea,  even  in  the  night.  Better  doth  he  fare 
who  flees  from  trouble,  than  he  that  is  overtaken." 

Then,  looking  on  him   sternly,  spake   Odysseus   of  many 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIV  251 

counsels:  "Atreus'  son,  what  word  hath  passed  the  door  of 
thy  hps  ?  Man  of  mischief,  sure  thou  shouldst  lead  some  other 
inglorious  army,  not  be  king  among  us,  to  whom  Zeus  hath 
given  it,  from  youth  even  unto  age,  to  wind  the  skein  of 
grievous  wars,  till  every  man  of  us  perish.  Art  thou  indeed  so 
eager  to  leave  the  wide-wayed  city  of  the  Trojans,  the  city  for 
which  we  endure  with  sorrow  so  many  evils?  Be  silent,  lest 
some  other  of  the  Achaians  hear  this  word,  that  no  man  should 
so  much  as  suffer  to  pass  through  his  mouth,  none  that  un- 
derstandeth  in  his  heart  how  to  speak  fit  counsel,  none  that  is 
a  sceptred  king,  and  hath  hosts  obeying  him  so  many  as  the  Ar- 
gives  over  whom  thou  reignest.  And  now  I  wholly  scorn  thy 
thoughts,  such  a  word  as  thou  hast  uttered,  thou  that,  in  the 
midst  of  war  and  battle,  dost  bid  us  draw  down  the  well-tim- 
bered ships  to  the  sea,  that  even  more  than  ever  the  Trojans  may 
possess  their  desire,  albeit  they  win  the  mastery  even  now,  and 
sheer  destruction  fall  upon  us.  For  the  Achaians  will  not  make 
good  the  war,  when  the  ships  are  drawn  down  to  the  salt  sea, 
but  will  look  round  about  to  flee,  and  withdraw  from  battle. 
There  will  thy  counsel  work  a  mischief,  O  marshal  of  the  host !" 

Then  the  king  of  men,  Agamemnon,  answered  him: 
"Odysseus,  right  sharply  hast  thou  touched  my  heart  with  thy 
stern  reproof:  nay,  I  do  not  bid  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  to 
drag,  against  their  will,  the  well-timbered  ships  to  the  salt  sea. 
Now  perchance  there  may  be  one  who  will  utter  a  wiser  counsel 
than  this  of  mine, — a  young  man  or  an  old, — welcome  would 
it  be  to  me." 

Then  Diomedes  of  the  loud  war-cry  spake  also  among  them : 
"The  man  is  near, — not  long  shall  we  seek  him,  if  ye  be  willing 
to  be  persuaded  of  me,  and  each  of  you  be  not  resentful  at  all, 
because  in  years  I  am  the  youngest  among  you.  Nay,  but  I 
too  boast  me  to  come  by  lineage  of  a  noble  sire,  Tydeus,  whom 
in  Thebes  the  piled-up  earth  doth  cover.  For  Portheus  had 
three  well-born  children,  and  they  dwelt  in  Pleuron,  and  steep 
Kalydon,  even  Agrios  and  Melas,  and  the  third  was  Oineus  the 
knight,  the  father  of  my  father,  and  in  valour  he  excelled  the 
others.  And  there  he  abode,  but  my  father  dwelt  at  Argos, 
whither  he  had  wandered,  for  so  Zeus  and  the  other  gods  willed 
that  it  should  be.     And  he  wedded  one  of  the  daughters  of 


252  HOMER 

Adrastos,  and  dwelt  in  a  house  full  of  livelihood,  and  had 
wheat-bearing  fields  enow,  and  many  orchards  of  trees  apart, 
and  many  sheep  were  his,  and  in  skill  with  the  spear  he  ex- 
celled all  the  Achaians:  these  things  ye  must  have  heard,  if  I 
speak  sooth.  Therefore  ye  could  not  say  that  I  am  weak  and 
a  coward  by  lineage,  and  so  dishonour  my  spoken  counsel,  that 
well  I  may  speak.  Let  us  go  down  to  the  battle,  wounded  as 
we  are,  since  we  needs  must ;  and  then  might  we  hold  ourselves 
aloof  from  the  battle,  beyond  the  range  of  darts,  lest  any  take 
wound  upon  wound ;  but  the  others  will  v/e  spur  on,  even  them 
that  aforetime  gave  place  to  their  passion,  and  stand  apart, 
and  fight  not." 

So  he  spake,  and  they  all  heard  him  readily,  and  obeyed 
him.     And  they  set  forth,  led  by  Agamemnon  the  king  of  men. 

Now  the  renowned  Earth-shaker  held  no  vain  watch,  but 
went  with  them  in  the  guise  of  an  ancient  man,  and  he  seized 
the  right  hand  of  Agamemnon,  Atreus'  son,  and  uttering 
winged  words  he  spake  to  him,  saying:  "Atreides,  now  me- 
thinks  the  ruinous  heart  of  Achilles  rejoices  in  his  breast,  as  he 
beholds  the  slaughter  and  flight  of  the  Achaians,  since  he  hath 
no  wisdom,  not  a  grain.  Nay,  even  so  may  he  perish  likewise, 
and  god  mar  him.  But  with  thee  the  blessed  gods  are  not  ut- 
terly wroth,  nay,  even  yet  methinks  the  leaders  and  rulers  of 
the  Trojans  will  cover  the  wide  plain  with  dust,  and  thyself 
shalt  see  them  fleeing  to  the  city  from  the  ships  and  the  huts." 

So  spake  he,  and  shouted  mightily,  as  he  sped  over  the  plain. 
And  loud  as  nine  thousand  men,  or  ten  thousand  cry  in  battle, 
when  they  join  the  strife  of  war,  so  mighty  was  the  cry  that  the 
strong  Shaker  of  the  earth  sent  forth  from  his  breast,  and  great 
strength  he  put  into  the  heart  of  each  of  the  Achaians,  to  strive 
and  war  unceasingly. 

Now  Hera  of  the  golden  throne  stood  on  the  peak  of  Olym- 
pus, and  saw  with  her  eyes,  and  anon  knew  him  that  was  "her 
brother  and  her  lord's  going  to  and  fro  through  the  glorious 
fight,  and  she  rejoiced  in  her  heart.  And  she  beheld  Zeus  sit- 
ting on  the  topmost  crest  of  many-fountained  Ida,  and  to  her 
heart  he  was  hateful.  Then  she  took  thought,  the  ox-eyed 
lady  Hera,  how  she  might  beguile  the  mind  of  aegis-bearing 
Zeus.     And  this  seemed  to  her  in  her  heart  to  be  the  best  coun- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XIV  253 

sel,  namely  to  fare  to  Ida,  when  she  had  well  adorned  herself, 
if  perchance  he  would  desire  to  sleep  beside  her  and  embrace 
her  body  in  love,  and  a  sweet  sleep  and  a  kindly  she  could  pour 
on  his  eyelids  and  his  crafty  wits.  And  she  set  forth  to  her 
bower,  that  her  dear  son  Hephaistos  had  fashioned,  and  therein 
had  made  fast  strong  doors  on  the  pillars,  with  a  secret  bolt, 
that  no  other  god  might  open.  There  did  she  enter  in  and 
closed  the  shining  doors.  With  ambrosia  first  did  she  cleanse 
every  stain  from  her  winsome  body,  and  anointed  her  with  olive 
oil,  ambrosial,  soft,  and  of  a  sweet  savour;  if  it  were  but  shaken, 
in  the  bronze-floored  mansion  of  Zeus,  the  savour  thereof  went 
right  forth  to  earth  and  heaven.  Therewith  she  anointed  her 
fair  body,  and  combed  her  hair,  and  with  her  hands  plaited  her 
shining  tresses,  fair  and  ambrosial,  flowing  from  her  immortal 
head.  Then  she  clad  her  in  her  fragrant  robe  that  Athene 
wrought  delicately  for  her,  and  therein  set  many  things  beauti- 
fully made,  and  fastened  it  over  her  breast  with  clasps  of  gold. 
And  she  girdled  it  with  a  girdle  arrayed  with  a  hundred  tassels, 
and  she  set  earrings  in  her  pierced  ears,  earrings  of  three  drops, 
and  glistering,  therefrom  shone  grace  abundantly.  And  with 
a  veil  over  all  the  peerless  goddess  veiled  herself,  a  fair  new 
veil,  bright  as  the  sun,  and  beneath  her  shining  feet  she  bound 
goodly  sandals.  But  when  she  had  adorned  her  body  with  all 
her  array,  she  went  forth  from  her  bower,  and  called  Aphrodite 
apart  from  the  other  gods,  and  spake  to  her  saying:  "Wilt 
thou  obey  me,  dear  child,  in  that  which  I  shall  tell  thee  ?  or  wilt 
thou  refuse,  with  a  grudge  in  thy  heart,  because  I  succour  the 
Danaans,  and  thou  the  Trojans?" 

Then  Aphrodite  the  daughter  of  Zeus  answered  her: 
"Hera,  goddess  queen,  daughter  of  mighty  Kronos,  say  the 
thing  that  is  in  thy  mind,  my  heart  bids  me  fulfil  it,  if  fulfil  it  I 
may,  and  if  it  may  be  accomplished." 

Then  with  crafty  purpose  the  lady  Hera  answered  her: 
"Give  me  now  Love  and  Desire  wherewith  thou  dost  overcome 
all  the  Immortals,  and  mortal  men.  For  I  am  going  to  visit  the 
limits  of  the  bountiful  Earth,  and  Okeanos,  father  of  the  gods, 
and  mother  Tethys,  who  reared  me  well  and  nourished  me  in 
their  halls,  having  taken  me  from  Rhea,  when  far-seeing  Zeus 
imprisoned  Kronos  beneath  the  earth  and  the  unvintaged  sea. 


254  HOMER 

Them  am  I  going  to  visit,  and  their  endless  strife  will  I  loose, 
for  already  this  long  time  they  hold  apart  from  each  other, 
apart  from  love  and  the  marriage  bed,  since  wrath  hath  settled 
in  their  hearts.  If  with  words  I  might  persuade  their  hearts, 
and  bring  them  back  to  love  and  the  marriage  bed,  ever  should 
I  be  called  dear  to  them  and  worshipful." 

Then  laughter-loving  Aphrodite  answered  her  again:  "It 
may  not  be,  nor  seemly  were  it  to  deny  that  thou  askest,  for 
thou  sleepest  in  the  arms  of  Zeus,  the  chief  of  gods." 

Therewith  from  her  breast  she  loosed  the  broidered  girdle, 
fair-wrought,  wherein  are  all  her  enchantments;  therein  are 
love,  and  desire,  and  loving  converse,  that  steals  the  wits  even 
of  the  wise.  This  girdle  she  laid  in  her  hands,  and  spake,  and 
said :  "Lo  now,  take  this  girdle  and  lay  it  up  in  thy  bosom, 
this  fair-wrought  girdle  wherein  all  things  are  fashioned ;  me- 
thinks  thou  wilt  not  return  with  that  unaccomplished,  which  in 
thy  heart  thou  desirest." 

So  spake  she,  and  the  ox-eyed  lady  Hera  smiled,  and  smil- 
ing laid  up  the  zone  within  her  breast. 

Then  the  daughter  of  Zeus,  Aphrodite,  went  to  her  house, 
and  Hera,  rushing  down,  left  the  peak  of  Olympus,  and  touched 
on  Pieria  and  pleasant  Emathia,  and  sped  over  the  snowy  hills 
of  the  Thracian  horsemen,  even  over  the  topmost  crests,  nor 
grazed  the  ground  with  her  feet,  and  from  Athos  she  fared 
across  the  foaming  sea,  and  came  to  Lemnos,  the  city  of  god- 
like Thoas.  There  she  met  Sleep,  the  brother  of  Death,  and 
clasped  her  hand  in  his,  and  spake  and  called  him  by  name : 
"Sleep,  lord  of  all  gods  and  of  all  men,  if  ever  thou  didst  hear 
my  word,  obey  me  again  even  now*  and  I  will  be  grateful  to 
thee  always.  Lull  me,  I  pray  thee,  the  shining  eyes  of  Zeus  be- 
neath his  brows,  so  soon  as  I  have  laid  me  down  by  him  in  love. 
And  gifts  I  will  give  to  thee,  even  a  fair  throne,  imperishable 
for  ever,  a  golden  throne,  that  Hephaistos  the  Lame,  mine  own 
child,  shall  fashion  skilfully,  and  will  set  beneath  it  a  foot- 
stool for  the  feet,  for  thee  to  set  thy  shining  feet  upon,  whe^i 
thou  art  at  a  festival." 

Then  sweet  Sleep  answered  her  and  said :  "Hera,  goddess 
and  queen,  daughter  of  mighty  Kronos,  another  of  the  eternal 
gods  might  I  lightly  lull  to  slumber,  yea,  were  it  the  streams  of 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XIV  255 

Okeanos  himself,  that  is  the  father  of  them  all.  But  to  Zeus 
the  son  of  Kronos  might  I  not  draw  near,  nor  lull  him  to  slum- 
ber, unless  himself  commanded  it.  For  ere  now  did  a  behest 
of  thine  teach  me  a  lesson,  on  the  day  when  that  famed  high-< 
hearted  son  of  Zeus  sailed  from  Ilios,  when  he  had  sacked  the 
city  of  the  Trojans.  Then  verily  I  lulled  the  soul  of  aegis-bear- 
ing Zeus,  with  my  sweet  influence  poured  about  him,  and  thou 
didst  contrive  evil  against  him  in  thy  heart,  and  didst  rouse 
over  the  sea  the  blasts  of  violent  winds,  and  Herakles  thou  then 
didst  bear  to  well-peopled  Kos,  far  from  all  his  friends.  But 
Zeus,  when  he  wakened,  was  wrathful,  and  dashed  the  gods 
about  his  mansion,  and  me  above  all  he  sought,  and  he  would 
have  cast  me  from  the  upper  air  to  perish  in  the  deep,  if  Night 
had  not  saved  me,  Night,  that  subdues  both  gods  and  men.  To 
her  I  came  as  a  suppliant  in  my  flight,  and  he  ceased  from  pur- 
suing, wrathful  as  he  was,  for  he  was  in  awe  of  doing  aught 
displeasing  to  swift  Night.  And  now  again  thou  biddest  me 
accomplish  this  other  task  that  may  not  be  accomplished." 

Then  the  ox-eyed  lady  Hera  answered  him  again :  "Sleep, 
wherefore  dost  thou  consider  these  things  in  thy  heart? 
dost  thou  deem  that  Zeus  of  the  far-borne  voice  will  suc- 
cour the  Trojans  even  as  he  was  wroth  for  the  sake  of  Hera- 
kles, his  own  child  ?  Nay  come,  and  I  will  give  thee  one  of  the 
younger  of  the  Graces,  to  wed  and  to  be  called  thy  wife,  even 
Pasithea,  that  ever  thou  longest  for  all  thy  days." 

So  she  spake,  and  Sleep  was  glad,  and  answered  and  said : 
"Come  now,  swear  to  me  by  the  inviolable  water  of  Styx,  and 
with  one  of  thy  hands  grasp  the  bounteous  earth,  and  with  the 
other  the  shining  sea,  that  all  may  be  witnesses  to  us,  even  all 
the  gods  below  that  are  with  Kronos,  that  verily  thou  wilt  give 
me  one  of  the  younger  of  the  Graces,  even  Pasithea,  that  my- 
self do  long  for  all  my  days." 

So  spake  he,  nor  did  she  disobey,  the  white-armed  goddess 
Hera ;  she  sware  as  he  bade  her,  and  called  all  the  gods  by 
name,  even  those  below  Tartaros  that  are  called  Titans.  But 
when  she  had  sworn  and  ended  that  oath,  the  twain  left  the  cit- 
adel of  Lemnos,  and  of  Imbros,  clothed  on  in  mist,  and  swiftly 
they  accomplished  the  way.  To  many-fountained  Ida  they 
came,  the  mother  of  wild  beasts,  to  Lekton,  where  first  they  left 


256  HOMER 

the  sea,  and  they  twain  fared  above  the  dry  land,  and  the  top- 
most forest  waved  beneath  their  feet.  There  Sleep  halted,  ere 
the  eyes  of  Zeus  beheld  him,  and  alighted  on  a  tall  pine  tree,  tlie 
loftiest  pine  that  then  in  all  Ida  arose  through  the  nether  to  the 
upper  air.  Therein  sat  he,  hidden  by  the  branches  of  the  pine, 
in  the  likeness  of  the  shrill  bird  that  on  the  mountains  the  gods 
call  chalkis,  but  men  kymindis  [a  kind  of  swift].  But  Hera 
swiftly  drew  nigh  to  topmost  Gargaros,  the  highest  crest  of 
Ida,  and  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  beheld  her.  And  as  he  saw 
her,  so  love  came  over  his  deep  heart,  even  as  when  first  they 
mingled  with  each  other  in  delight,  and  went  together  to  the 
couch,  their  dear  parents  knowing  it  not.  And  he  stood  be- 
fore her,  and  spoke,  and  said:  "Hera,  with  what  desire  comest 
thou  thus  hither  from  Olympus,  and  thy  horses  and  chariot  are 
not  here,  whereon  thou  mightst  ascend?" 

Then  with  crafty  purpose  lady  Hera  answered  him:  *T 
am  going  to  visit  the  limits  of  the  bountiful  earth,  and  Oke- 
anos,  father  of  the  gods,  and  mother  Tethys,  who  reared  me 
well  and  cherished  me  in  their  halls.  Them  am  I  going  to 
visit,  and  their  endless  strife  will  I  loose,  for  already  this  long 
time  they  hold  apart  from  each  other,  from  love  and  the  mar- 
riage bed,  since  wrath  hath  settled  in  their  hearts.  But  my 
horses  are  standing  at  the  foot  of  many-fountained  Ida,  my 
horses  that  shall  bear  me  over  wet  and  dry.  And  now  it  is  be- 
cause of  thee  that  I  am  thus  come  hither,  down  from  Olympus, 
lest  perchance  thou  mightest  be  wroth  with  me  hereafter,  if 
silently  I  were  gone  to  the  mansions  of  deep-flowing  Okeanos." 

Then  Zeus,  the  gatherer  of  the  clouds,  answered  her  and 
said :  "Hera,  thither  mayst  thou  go  on  a  later  day.  But  come 
let  us  twain  take  pleasure  in  the  bed  of  love.  For  never  once 
as  thus  did  the  love  of  goddess  or  woman  so  mightily  overflow 
and  conquer  the  heart  within  my  breast.  Not  when  I  loved  the 
wife  of  Ixion,  who  bore  Pirithoos,  the  peer  of  gods  in  counsel, 
nor  when  I  loved  Danae  of  the  fair  ankle,  daughter  of  Akrisios, 
who  bore  Perseus,  most  renowned  of  all  men,  nor  when  I  loved 
the  famed  daughter  of  Phoinix,  who  bore  me  Minos,  and  god- 
like Rhadamanthys,  nay,  nor  even  when  I  loved  Semele,  nor 
Alkmene  in  Thebes,  and  she  bore  Herakles,  a  child  hardy  of 
heart,  but   Semele  bore  Dionysos.  a  delight   to  mortals,  nay. 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    XIV  257 

nor  when  I  loved  the  fair-tressed  queen,  Demeter,  nor  re- 
nowned Leto,  nay,  nor  thy  very  self,  as  now  I  love  thee,  and 
sweet  desire  possesses  me." 

And  him  the  lady  Hera  answered  with  crafty  purpose: 
"Most  dread  son  of  Kronos,  what  a  word  thou  hast  spoken! 
If  now  thou  dost  long  to  be  couched  in  love  on  the  crests  of 
Ida,  and  all  stands  plain  to  view,  how  would  it  be  if  some  one 
of  the  eternal  gods  should  see  us  slumbering,  and  go  and  tell  it 
to  all  the  gods?  It  is  not  I  that  could  arise  from  the  couch 
and  go  again  to  thy  house,  nay,  it  would  be  a  thing  for  right- 
eous anger.  But  if  thou  wilt,  and  it  is  dear  to  thy  heart,  thou 
hast  a  chamber  that  thine  own  son  Hephaistos  builded,  and 
fastened  strong  doors  to  the  pillars,  thither  let  us  go  and  lie 
down,  if  the  couch  be  thy  desire." 

Then  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  answered  her  and  said: 
"Hera,  fear  not  lest  any  god,  or  any  man  should  spy  the  thing, 
so  great  a  golden  cloud  will  I  cast  all  over  thee.  Nay,  methinks 
not  even  the  sun  might  see  through  it,  the  sun,  whose  light  is 
keenest  of  all  to  behold." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  son  of  Kronos  clasped  his  consort  in 
his  arms.  And  beneath  them  the  divine  earth  sent  forth  fresh 
new  grass,  and  dewy  lotus,  and  crocus,  and  hyacinth,  thick 
and  soft,  that  raised  them  aloft  from  the  ground.  Therein 
they  lay,  and  were  clad  on  with  a  fair  golden  cloud,  whence 
fell  drops  of  glittering  dew. 

Thus  slept  the  Father  in  quiet  on  the  crest  of  Gargaros, 
by  Sleep  and  love  overcome,  with  his  bedfellow  in  his  arms. 
But  sweet  Sleep  started  and  ran  to  the  ships  of  the  Achaians, 
to  tell  his  tidings  to  the  god  that  holdeth  and  shaketh  the  earth. 
And  he  stood  near  him,  and  spake  winged  words :  "Eagerly 
now,  Poseidon,  do  thou  aid  the  Danaans,  and  give  them  glory 
for  a  little  space,  while  yet  Zeus  sleepeth,  for  over  him  have  I 
shed  soft  slumber,  and  Hera  hath  beguiled  him  to  couch  in 
love." 

So  he  spake,  and  passed  to  the  renowned  tribes  of  men,  and 
Still  the  more  did  he  set  on  Poseidon  to  aid  the  Danaans,  who 
straightway  sprang  far  a  front  of  the  foremost,  and  called  to 
them :  "Argives,  are  we  again  to  yield  the  victory  to  Hector, 
son  of  Priam,  that  he  may  take  our  ships  and  win  renown? 


258  HOMER 

Nay,  even  so  he  saith  and  declareth  that  he  will  do,  for  that 
Achilles  by  the  hollow  ships  abides  angered  at  heart.  But  for 
him  there  will  be  no  such  extreme  regret,  if  we  spur  us  on  to 
aid  each  the  other.  Nay  come,  as  I  command,  let  us  all  obey. 
Let  us  harness  us  in  the  best  shields  that  are  in  the  host,  and 
the  greatest,  and  cover  our  heads  with  shining  helms,  and  take 
the  longest  spears  in  our  hands,  and  so  go  forth.  Yea,  and  I  will 
lead  the  way,  and  methinks  that  Hector,  son  of  Priam,  will  not 
long  await  us,  for  all  his  eagerness.  And  whatsoever  man  is 
steadfast  in  battle,  and  hath  a  small  buckler  on  his  shoulder, 
let  him  give  it  to  a  worse  man,  and  harness  him  in  a  larger 
shield." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  heard  him  eagerly  and  obeyed  him. 
And  them  the  kings  themselves  arrayed,  wounded  as  they  were, 
Tydeus'  son,  and  Odysseus,  and  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus. 
They  went  through  all  the  host,  and  made  exchange  of  weapons 
of  war.  The  good  arms  did  the  good  warrior  harness  him  in, 
the  worse  he  gave  to  the  worse.  But  when  they  had  done  on 
the  shining  bronze  about  their  bodies,  they  started  on  the  march, 
and  Poseidon  led  them,  the  Shaker  of  the  earth,  with  a  dread 
sword  of  fine  edge  in  his  strong  hand,  like  unto  lightning; 
wherewith  it  is  not  permitted  that  any  should  mingle  in  woful 
war,  but  fear  holds  men  afar  therefrom.  But  the  Trojans  on 
the  other  side  was  renowned  Hector  arraying.  Then  did  they 
now  strain  the  fiercest  strife  of  war,  even  dark-haired  Poseidon 
and  glorious  Hector,  one  succouring  the  Trojans,  the  other 
with  the  Argives.  And  the  sea  washed  up  to  the  huts  and 
ships  of  the  Argives,  and  they  gathered  together  with  a  mighty 
cry.  Not  so  loudly  bellows  the  wave  of  the  sea  against  the 
land,  stirred  up  from  the  deep  by  the  harsh  breath  of  the  north 
wind,  nor  so  loud  is  the  roar  of  burning  fire  in  the  glades  of  a 
mountain,  when  it  springs  to  burn  up  the  forest,  nor  calls  the 
wind  so  loudly  in  the  high  leafy  tresses  of  the  trees,  when  it 
rages  and  roars  its  loudest,  as  then  was  the  cry  of  the  Trojans 
and  Achaians,  shouting  dreadfully  as  they  rushed  upon  each 
other. 

First  glorious  Hector  cast  with  his  spear  at  Aias,  who  was 
facing  him  full,  and  did  not  miss,  striking  him  where  two  belts 
were  stretched  across  his  breast,  the  belt  of  his  shield,  and  of 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK   XIV  259 

his  silver-studded  sword  ;  these  guarded  his  tender  flesh.  And 
Hector  was  enraged  because  his  swift  spear  had  flown  vainly 
from  his  hand,  and  he  retreated  into  the  throng  of  his  fellows, 
avoiding  Fate. 

Then  as  he  was  departing  the  great  Tclanionian  Aias  smote 
him  >vith  a  huge  stone;  for  many  stones,  the  props  of  swift 
ships,  were  rolled  among  the  feet  of  the  fighters ;  one  of  these 
he  lifted,  and  smote  Hector  on  the  breast,  over  the  shield-rim, 
near  the  neck,  and  made  him  spin  like  a  top  with  the  blow,  that 
he  reeled  round  and  round.  And  even  as  when  an  oak  falls  up- 
rooted beneath  the  stroke  of  father  Zeus,  and  a  dread  savour 
of  brimstone  arises  therefrom,  and  whoso  stands  near  and  be- 
holds it  has  no  more  courage,  for  dread  is  the  bolt  of  great 
Zeus,  even  so  fell  mighty  Hector  straghtway  in  the  dust.  And 
the  spear  fell  from  his  hand,  but  his  shield  and  helm  were 
made  fast  to  him,  and  round  him  rang  his  arms  adorned  with 
bronze. 

Then  with  a  loud  cry  they  ran  up,  the  sons  of  the  Achaians, 
hoping  to  drag  him  away,  and  they  cast  showers  of  darts.  But 
not  one  availed  to  wound  or  smite  the  shepherd  of  the  host; 
before  that  might  be  the  bravest  gathered  about  him,  Polyda- 
mas,  and  Aineias,  and  goodly  Agenor,  and  Sarpedon,  leader  of 
the  Lykians,  and  noble  Glaukos,  and  of  the  rest  not  one  was 
heedless  of  him,  but  they  held  their  round  shields  in  front  of 
him,  and  his  comrades  lifted  him  in  their  arms,  and  bare  him 
out  of  the  battle,  till  he  reached  his  swift  horses  that  were  stand- 
ing waiting  for  him,  with  the  charioteer  and  the  fair-dight 
chariot  at  the  rear  of  the  combat  and  the  war.  These  toward 
the  city  bore  him  heavily  moaning.  Now  when  they  came  to 
the  ford  of  the  fair-flowing  river,  of  eddying  Xanthos,  that  im- 
mortal Zeus  begat,  there  they  li  f ted  him  from  the  chariot  to  the 
ground,  and  poured  water  over  him,  and  he  gat  back  his 
breath,  and  looked  up  with  his  eyes,  and  sitting  on  his  heels 
kneeling,  he  vomited  black  blood.  Then  again  he  sank  back  on 
the  ground,  and  black  night  covered  his  eyes,  the  stroke  still 
conquering  his  spirit. 

Now  the  Argives  when  they  saw  Hector  departed  rushed  yet 
the  more  upon  the  Trojans,  and  were  mindful  of  the  delight  of 
battle.     There  far  the  foremost  did  swift  Aias,  son  of  Oileus, 


260  HOMER 

leap  on  Satnios,  son  of  Enops,  and  wounded  him  with  his  sharp 
spear ;  Satnios  whom  the  fair  Naiadnymph  bore  to  Enops  as  he 
herded  his  flocks  by  the  banks  of  Satnioeis.  Him  did  the  spear- 
famed  son  of  Oileus  draw  nigh  and  wounded  him  on  the  flank, 
and  he  fell,  and  round  him  did  Trojans  and  Danaans  join  in 
strong  battle.  Then  to  his  aid  came  Polydamas,  the  wielder  of 
the  spear,  son  of  Panthoos,  and  smote  Prothoenor  on  the  right 
shoulder.  Prothoenor,  son  of  Areilykos,  and  through  his 
shoulder  went  the  mighty  spear,  and  he  fell  in  the  dust,  and 
clutched  the  earth  with  his  palm.  And  Polydamas  boasted  oyer 
him  terribly,  crying  aloud :  "Verily  methinks  that  again  from 
the  strong  hand  of  the  high-hearted  son  of  Panthoos,  the  spear 
hath  not  leaped  in  vain.  Nay,  one  of  the  Argives  hath  caught 
it  in  his  flesh,  and  leaning  thereon  for  a  staff,  methinks  that  he 
will  go  down  within  the  house  of  Hades." 

So  spake  he,  and  sorrow  came  on  the  Argives  by  reason  of 
his  boasting.  And  chiefly  he  roused  the  wrath  of  the  wise  son 
of  Telamon,  Aias,  for  the  man  fell  close  by  him.  Swiftly  he 
cast  at  the  other,  as  he  departed,  with  his  shining  spear.  And 
Polydamas  himself  avoided  black  Fate,  starting  to  one  side,  but 
Archelochos,  son  of  Antenor,  received  the  spear,  for  the  gods 
had  willed  his  death.  Him  the  spear  struck  at  the  meeting  of 
the  head  and  neck,  on  the  last  joint  of  the  spine,  and  cut  in 
twain  both  the  tendons.  And  his  head,  and  mouth,  and  nose, 
as  he  fell,  reached  the  earth  long  before  his  legs  and  knees,  and 
Aias  again  shouted  to  noble  Polydamas:  "Consider,  Polyda- 
mas, and  tell  me  truly,  whether  thou  sayst  not  that  this  man  is 
worth  slaying  in  place  of  Prothoenor:  he  seems  to  me  no 
coward,  nor  born  of  cowards,  but  a  brother  of  horse-taming 
Antenor,  or  a  child,  for  he  most  closely  favoureth  his  house." 

So  he  spake,  knowing  the  truth  right  well,  and  sorrow  seized 
the  hearts  of  the  Trojans.  Then  Akamas  wounded  Promachos 
the  Boiotian  with  his  spear,  from  where  he  stood  above  his 
brother,  that  Promachos  was  dragging  away  by  the  feet.  Over 
him  Akamas  boasted  terribly,  shouting  aloud:  "Ye  Argive 
bowmen,  insatiate  of  threats,  verily  not  for  us  alone  shall  there 
be  struggle  and  toil,  nay,  but  even  as  we  shall  ye  likewise  perish. 
Consider  how  your  Promachos  sleepeth,  vanquished  by  my 
spear,  that  my  brother's  blood-price  may  not  be  long  unpaid. 


TI-IE    ILIAD— BOOK   XIV  261 

Even  for  this  it  is  that  a  man  may  well  pray  to  leave  some  kins- 
man in  his  halls,  that  will  avenge  his  fall." 

So  he  spake,  and  sorrow  came  on  the  Argives  at  his  boast. 
And  chiefly  he  stirred  the  heart  of  the  wise  Peneleos,  who  made 
for  Akamas,  and  Akamas  abode  not  the  onset  of  the  prince 
Peneleos.  But  Peneleos  wounded  Ilioneus,  the  son  of  Phor- 
bas,  rich  in  herds,  that  Hermes  loved  most  dearly  of  all  the  Tro- 
jans, and  gave  him  wealth.  Now  his  mother  bare  Ilioneus,  an 
only  child,  to  Phorbas.  Him  did  Peneleos  wound  beneath  the 
brows,  at  the  bases  of  the  eye,  and  drave  out  the  eyeball,  and 
the  spear  went  clean  through  the  eye  and  through  the  nape  of 
the  neck,  and  he  fell  back,  stretching  out  both  his  hands.  And 
Peneleos,  drawing  forth  his  sharp  sword,  smote  him  on  the 
middle  of  the  neck,  and  smote  off  even  to  the  ground  the  head 
with  the  helmet,  and  still  the  strong  spear  stood  in  the  eye, 
and  lifting  it  up  like  a  poppy  head,  he  showed  it  to  the  Trojans, 
and  spoke  his  boastful  words:  "Ye  Trojans,  I  pray  you  bid 
the  dear  father  and  the  mother  of  proud  Ilioneus  to  wail  in  their 
halls,  for  neither  will  the  wife  of  Promachos,  son  of  Alegenor, 
rejoice  in  her  dear  husband's  coming,  in  that  hour  when  we 
vouths  of  the  Achaians  return  with  our  ships  out  of  Troy-* 
land." 

So  he  spake,  and  fear  fell  on  the  limbs  of  all  of  them;  and 
each  man  looked  about  to  see  where  he  might  flee  sheer  de- 
struction. 

Tell  me  now,  ye  Muses,  that  dwell  in  the  mansions  of  Olym- 
pus, who  was  the  first  of  the  Achaians  to  lift  the  bloody  spoils, 
when  once  the  renowned  Shaker  of  the  earth  turned  the  battle. 

Verily  it  was  Aias,  son  of  Telamon,  that  first  wounded  Hyr- 
tios,  the  son  of  Gyrtias,  the  leader  of  the  Mysians  strong  of 
heart,  and  Antilochos  stripped  the  spoils  from  Phalkes  and 
Mermeros,  and  Meriones  slew  Morys  and  Hippotion,  and 
Teukros  slew  Prothoon  and  Periphetes,  and  next  Atreus'  son 
wounded  in  the  flank  Hyperenor,  the  shepherd  of  the  host,  and 
the  bronze  point  tore  through  and  let  out  the  entrails,  and  the 
soul  through  the  stricken  wound  fled  hastily,  and  darkness  cov- 
ered his  eyes.  But  most  men  did  Aias  slay,  the  swift-footed 
son  of  Oileus,  for  there  was  none  so  speedy  of  foot  as  he,  to 
follow  when  men  fled,  when  Zeus  sent  terror  among  them. 


202  HOMER 


BOOK  XV 

Zeus  awakening,  biddeth  Apollo  revive  Hector,  and  restore  the 
fortunes  of  the  Trojans.     Fire  is  thrown  on  the  ship  of  Protesilaos. 

Now  when  they  had  sped  in  flight  across  the  pahsade  and 
trench,  and  many  were  overcome  at  the  hands  of  the  Danaans, 
the  rest  were  stayed,  and  abode  beside  the  chariots  in  con- 
fusion, and  pale  with  terror,  and  Zeus  awoke,  on  the  peaks  of 
Ida,  beside  Hera  of  the  golden  throne.  Then  he  leaped  up,  and 
stood,  and  beheld  the  Trojans  and  Achaians,  those  in  flight, 
and  these  driving  them  on  from  the  rear,  even  the  Argives, 
and  among  them  the  prince  Poseidon,  And  Hector  he  saw 
lying  on  the  plain,  and  around  him  sat  his  comrades,  and  he 
was  gasping  with  diflicult  breath,  and  his  mind  wandering, 
and  was  vomiting  blood,  for  it  was  not  the  weakest  of  the 
Achaians  that  had  smitten  him.  Beholding  him,  the  father 
of  men  and  gods  had  pity  on  him,  and  terribly  he  spoke  to 
Hera,  with  fierce  look:  "O  thou  ill  to  deal  with,  Hera,  verily 
it  is  thy  crafty  wile  that  has  made  noble  Hector  cease  from 
the  fight,  and  has  terrified  the  host.  Nay,  but  yet  I  know  not 
whether  thou  mayst  not  be  the  first  to  reap  the  fruits  of  thy 
cruel  treason,  and  I  beat  thee  with  stripes.  Dost  thou  not 
remember,  when  thou  wert  hung  from  on  high,  and  from  tliy 
feet  I  suspended  two  anvils,  and  round  thy  hands  fastened  a 
golden  bond  that  might  not  be  broken?  And  thou  didst  hang 
in  the  clear  air  and  the  clouds,  and  the  gods  were  wroth  in 
high  Olympus,  but  they  could  not  come  round  and  unloose 
thee.  Nay,  whomsoever  I  might  take,  I  would  clutch,  and 
throw  from  the  threshold,  to  come  fainting  to  the  earth,  yet 
verily  not  even  so  did  the  ceaseless  sorrow  leave  my  soul  free : 
sorrow  for  godlike  Herakles.  Him  didst  thou  drive,  when 
thou  hadst  suborned  the  tempest,  with  the  help  of  the  North 
Wind,  over  the  unvintaged  deep,  out  of  thine  evil  counsel, 
and  then  didst  carry  him  away  to  well-peopled  Kos.  Him 
did  I  rescue  thence,  and  lead  again  to  Argos,  the  pastureland 
of  horses,  after  his  much  labour.    Of  these  things  will  I  mind 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK   XV  263 

thee  again,  that  thou  mayst  cease  from  thy  wiles,  that  thou 
mayst  know  if  it  profit  thee  at  all,  the  dalliance  and  the  love, 
wherein  thou  didst  lie  with  me,  when  thou  hadst  come  from 
among  the  gods,  and  didst  beguile  me." 

So  spake  he,  and  the  ox-eyed  lady  Hera  shuddered,  and 
spake  unto  him  winged  words,  saying:  "Let  earth  now  be 
witness  hereto,  and  wide  heaven  above,  and  that  falling  water 
of  Styx,  the  greatest  oath  and  the  most  terrible  to  the  blessed 
gods,  and  thine  own  sacred  head,  and  our  own  bridal  bed, 
whereby  never  would  I  forswear  myself,  that  not  by  my  will 
does  earth-shaking  Poseidon  trouble  the  Trojans  and  Hector, 
and  succour  therm  of  the  other  part.  Nay,  it  is  his  own  soul 
that  urgeth  and  commandeth  him,  and  he  had  pity  on  the 
Achaians,  when  he  beheld  them  hard  pressed  beside  the  ships. 
I  would  even  counsel  him  also  to  go  even  where  thou,  lord 
of  the  storm-cloud,  mayst  lead  him." 

So  spake  she,  and  the  father  of  gods  and  men  smiled,  and 
answering  her  he  spake  winged  words:  "If  thou,  of  a  truth, 
O  ox-eyed  lady  Hera,  wouldst  hereafter  abide  of  one  mind 
with  me  among  the  immortal  gods,  thereon  would  Poseidon, 
howsoever  much  his  wish  be  contrariwise,  quickly  turn  his 
mind  otherwhere,  after  thy  heart  and  mine.  But  if  indeed 
thou  speakest  the  truth  and  soothly,  go  thou  now  among  the 
tribes  of  the  gods,  and  call  Iris  to  come  hither,  and  Apollo, 
the  renowned  archer,  that  Iris  may  go  among  the  host  of 
mail-clad  Achaians  and  tell  Poseidon  the  prince  to  cease  from 
the  war,  and  get  him  unto  his  own  house.  But  let  Phoebus 
Apollo  spur  Hector  on  to  the  war,  and  breathe  strength  into 
him  again,  and  make  him  forget  his  anguish,  that  now  wears 
down  his  heart,  and  drive  the  Achaians  back  again,  when  he 
hath  stirred  in  them  craven  fear.  Let  them  flee  and  fall 
among  the  many-benched  ships  of  Achilles  son  of  Peleus,  and 
he  shall  rouse  his  own  comrade,  Patroklos;  and  him  shall 
renowned  Hector  slay  with  the  spear,  in  front  of  Ilios,  after 
that  he  has  slain  many  other  youths,  and  among  them  my  son, 
noble  Sarpedon,  In  wrath  therefor  shall  goodly  Achilles  slay 
Hector.  From  that  hour  verily  will  I  cause  a  new  pursuit 
from  the  ships,  that  shall  endure  continually,  even  until  the 
Achaians  take  steep  Ilios,  through  the  counsels  of  Athene. 


264  HOMER 

But  before  that  hour  neither  do  I  cease  in  my  wrath,  nor  will  I 
suffer  any  other  of  the  Immortals  to  help  the  Danaans  there, 
before  I  accomplish  that  desire  of  the  son  of  Peleus,  as  I 
promised  him  at  the  first,  and  confirmed  the  same  with  a  nod 
of  my  head,  on  that  day  when  the  goddess  Thetis  clasped  my 
knees,  imploring  me  to  honour  Achilles,  the  sacker  of  cities.'* 

So  spake  Jie,  nor  did  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  dis- 
obey him,  and  she  sped  down  from  the  hills  of  Ida  to  high 
Olympus.  And  even  as  when  the  mind  of  a  man  darts  speedily, 
of  one  that  hath  travelled  over  far  lands,  and  considers  in 
his  wise  heart,  "Would  that  I  were  here  or  there,"  and  he 
thinketh  him  of  many  things,  so  swiftly  fled  she  in  her  eager- 
ness, the  lady  Hera,  and  came  to  steep  Olympus,  and  went 
among  the  gathering  of  the  immortal  gods  in  the  house  of 
Zeus,  and  when  they  beheld  her  they  all  rose  up  together,  and 
held  out  their  cups  to  her  in  welcome.  The  others  she  left 
alone,  but  took  the  cup  of  Themis  of  the  fair  cheeks,  for  she 
was  the  first  that  came  running  to  meet  her,  and  speaking 
winged  words  accosted  her:  "Hera,  wherefore  hast  thou 
come?  thou  seemest  like  one  confounded;  verily  the  son  of 
Kronos  hath  made  thee  adread,  thine  own  husband." 

Then  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  answered  her,  saying : 
"Ask  me  not  concerning  this,  O  goddess  Themis;  thyself 
knowest  it,  how  overweening  is  his  heart,  and  unyielding. 
But  do  thou  begin  the  equal  banquet  of  the  gods  in  the  halls, 
and  thus  shalt  thou  hear  among  all  the  Immortals,  even  what 
evil  deeds  Zeus  declareth.  Nay,  methinks,  not  equally  will 
it  delight  the  minds  of  all,  neither  of  gods  nor  mortals,  if 
even  now  any  still  sit  with  pleasure  at  the  feast." 

So  spake  the  lady  Hera,  and  sat  her  down,  while  the  gods 
were  heavy  at  heart  in  the  hall  of  Zeus.  And  she  laughed 
with  her  lips,  but  her  forehead  above  her  dark  brows  was  not 
gladdened,  and  indignantly  she  spake  among  them  all :  "Wit- 
less that  we  are  to  be  wroth  in  our  folly  against  Zeus !  Even 
still  we  are  eager  to  draw  nigh  to  him,  and  let  him  from  his 
will,  by  word  or  deed,  but  he  sits  apart  and  careth  not,  nor 
takes  any  thought  thereof,  for  he  deems  that  among  the 
immortal  gods  he  is  manifestly  pre-eminent  in  force  and  might. 
Wherefore  do  ye  content  yourselves  with  whatsoever  sorrow 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  265 

he  sends  on  each  of  you.  Already,  methinks,  has  sorrow  been 
wrought  for  Ares,  for  his  son  has  fallen  in  the  fight,  even  the 
dearest  of  men,  Askalaphos,  that  dread  Ares  deemeth  to  be 
verily  his  own." 

So  spake  she,  but  Ares  smote  his  strong  thighs  with  his 
hands  flatlings,  and  sorrowing  he  spake:  "Hold  me  not 
now  to  blame,  ye  that  keep  the  mansions  of  Olympus,  if  I 
avenge  the  slaying  of  my  son,  and  go  to  the  ships  of  the 
Achaians,  even  if  it  be  my  doom  to  be  smitten  with  the  bolt 
of  Zeus,  and  lie  among  the  dead,  in  the  dust  and  blood." 

So  spake  he,  and  bade  yoke  his  horses.  Fear  and  Dread, 
and  himself  did  on  his  shining  harness.  Thereby  would  yet 
a  greater  and  more  implacable  wrath  and  anger  have  been 
caused  between  Zeus  and  the  Immortals,  had  not  Athene,  in 
terror  for  the  sake  of  all  the  gods,  leaped  out  through  the 
doorway,  and  left  the  throne  wherein  she  sat,  and  taken  from 
Ares'  head  the  helmet,  and  the  shield  from  his  shoulders,  and 
drawn  the  spear  of  bronze  from  his  stalwart  hand,  and  set 
it  apart,  and  then  with  words  she  rebuked  the  impetuous  Ares : 
"Mad  that  thou  art,  and  distraught  of  wit — this  is  thy  bane! 
Verily  thou  hast  ears  and  hearest  not,  and  perished  have  thine 
understanding  and  thine  awe.  Hearest  thou  not  what  she 
saith,  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera,  that  even  now  is  come 
from  Olympian  Zeus?  Dost  thou  wish  both  thyself  to  fill 
up  the  measure  of  mischief  and  so  return  to  Olympus  ruefully, 
of  necessity,  and  for  all  the  other  gods  to  sow  the  seed  of  a  ' 
great  wrong?  For  straightway  will  he  leave  the  high-hearted 
Trojans  and  the  Achaians,  and  to  us  will  he  come  to  make 
tumult  in  Olympus:  and  he  will  clutch  us  each  in  turn,  the 
blameless  with  the  guilty.  Wherefore  now  again  I  bid  thee 
to  abate  thine  anger  for  thy  son,  for  already  many  a  man 
stronger  than  he,  and  more  hardy  of  his  hands,  has  fallen,  or 
yet  will  fall;  and  a  hard  thing  it  is  to  save  the  lineage  and 
offspring  of  all  men." 

So  spake  she,  and  made  impetuous  Ares  sit  down  on  his 
throne.  But  Hera  called  Apollo  without  the  hall,  and  Iris, 
that  is  the  messenger  of  the  immortal  gods,  and  she  spake 
winged  words,  and  addressed  them,  saying:  "Zeus  bids  you 
go  to  Ida  as  swiftly  as  may  be,  and  when  ye  have  gone,  and 


266  HOMER 

looked  on  the  face  of  Zeus,  do  ye  whatsoever  he  shall  order 
and  command." 

So  spake  she,  and  returned  again,  the  lady  Hera,  and  sat 
down  on  her  throne,  and  they  flew  forward  speedily,  and  came 
to  many-fountained  Ida,  mother  of  wild  beasts,  and  found 
far-seeing  Zeus  seated  on  topmost  Gargaros,  and  round  him  a 
fragrant  cloud  was  circled  like  a  crown.  And  these  twain 
came  before  the  face  of  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer,  and  stood 
there,  and  he  was  no  wise  displeased  at  heart  when  he  beheld 
them,  for  that  speedily  they  had  obeyed  the  words  of  his  dear 
wife.  And  to  Iris  first  he  spake  winged  words :  "Go,  get 
thee,  swift  Iris,  to  the  prince  Poseidon,  and  tell  him  all  these 
things,  nor  be  a  false  messenger.  Command  him  to  cease 
from  war  and  battle,  and  to  go  among  the  tribes  of  the  gods, 
or  into  the  bright  sea.  But  if  he  will  not  obey  my  words,  but 
will  hold  me  in  no  regard,  then  let  him  consider  in  his  heart 
and  mind,  lest  he  dare  not  for  all  his  strength  to  abide  me 
when  I  come  against  him,  since  I  deem  me  to  be  far  mightier 
than  he,  and  elder  born.  But  this  his  heart  feareth  not — to 
call  himself  the  peer  of  me  whom  even  the  other  gods  do 
hold  in  dread." 

So  spake  he,  nor  did  the  wind-footed  fleet  Iris  disobey 
him,  but  went  down  the  hills  of  Ida  to  sacred  Ilios.  And  as 
when  snow  or  chill  hail  fleets  from  the  clouds  beneath  the 
stress  of  the  North  Wind  born  in  the  clear  air,  so  fleetly  she 
fled  in  her  eagerness,  swift  Iris,  and  drew  near  the  renowned 
Earth-shaker  and  spake  to  him,  saying:  "A  certain  message 
to  thee,  O  dark-haired  embracer  of  the  earth,  have  I  come 
hither  to  bring  from  aegis-bearing  Zeus.  He  biddeth  thee 
cease  from  the  battle  and  war,  and  go  among  the  tribes  of  the 
gods,  or  into  the  bright  sea.  And  if  thou  wilt  not  obey  his 
word,  but  wilt  hold  him  in  no  regard,  he  threatens  that  even 
himself  will  come  hither  against  thee  in  battle,  and  he  biddeth 
thee  avoid  thee  out  of  his  hands,  since  he  deemeth  him  far 
mightier  than  thou,  and  elder  born,  but  thy  heart  feareth  not 
to  call  thyself  the  peer  of  him  whom  even  the  other  gods  do 
hold  in  dread." 

Then,  in  great  displeasure  the  renowned  Shaker  of  the 
earth  answered  her:     "Out  on  it,  verily  now,  for  as  strong 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  267 

as  he  is,  he  hath  spoken  over-haughtily,  if  indeed  he  will 
subdue  by  force,  against  my  will,  me  that  am  his  equal  in 
honour.  For  three  brethren  are  we,  and  sons  of  Kronos,  whom 
Rhea  bare,  Zeus,  and  myself,  and  Hades  is  the  third,  the 
ruler  of  the  folk  in  the  under-world.  And  in  three  lots  are- 
all  things  divided,  and  each  drew  a  domain  of  his  own,  and 
to  me  fell  the  hoary  sea,  to  be  my  habitation  for  ever,  when 
we  shook  the  lots :  and  Hades  drew  the  murky  darkness,  and 
Zeus  the  wide  heaven,  in  clear  air  and  clouds,  but  the  earth 
and  high  Olympus  are  yet  common  to  all.  Wherefore  no 
whit  will  I  walk  after  the  will  of  Zeus,  but  quietly  let  him 
abide,  for  all  his  strength,  in  his  third  portion.  And  with 
the  might  of  his  hands  let  him  not  strive  to  terrify  me  withal, 
as  if  I  were  a  coward.  Better  for  him  were  it  to  threaten 
with  terrible  words  his  daughters  and  his  sons,  that  himself 
begat,  who  will  perforce  listen  to  whatso  he  enjoins." 

Then  the  fleet  wind-footed  Iris  answered  him:  "Is  it 
indeed  thy  will,  O  dark-haired  embracer  of  the  earth,  that 
even  thus  I  shall  carry  to  Zeus  this  message,  hard  and  f  roward, 
or  wilt  thou  turn  thee  at  all,  for  the  hearts  of  the  good  may  be 
turned?  Thou  knowest  how  the  Erinyes  do  always  follow  to 
aid  the  elder-born." 

Then  he  answered  her  again,  Poseidon,  the  Shaker  of 
the  earth:  "Goddess  Iris,  most  duly  hast  thou  spoken  this 
word.  Yea,  an  excellent  thing  is  this,  when  the  bearer  of  a 
message  has  a  prudent  wit.  Yet  this  is  a  terrible  grief  that 
Cometh  on  heart  and  spirit,  whenso  any  desireth  to  upbraid 
with  angry  words  his  peer  to  whom  fate  hath  assigned  an 
equal  share  with  himself.  But  verily  now  will  I  yield,  for  all 
mine  anger;  but  another  thing  will  I  tell  thee,  and  make  this 
threat  in  my  heart,  that  if  against  my  will,  and  the  will  of 
Athene,  the  driver  of  the  prey,  and  of  Hera  and  Hermes,  and 
prince  Hephaistos,  Zeus  shall  spare  steep  Ilios,  nor  choose 
utterly  to  destroy  it,  and  give  great  might  to  the  Argives,  let 
him  know  this,  that  our  wrath  will  be  inappeasable." 

So  spake  the  Shaker  of  the  earth,  and  left  the  host  of  the 
Achaians,  and  passed  to  the  sea,  and  sank,  and  sorely  they 
missed  him,  the  heroes  of  the  Achaians. 

Then  Zeus,  the  gatherer  of  the  clouds,  spake  to  Apollo, 


268  HOMER 

saying:  "Go  now,  dear  Phoebus,  to  Hector  of  the  helm  of 
bronze,  for,  lo,  already  the  embracer  of  the  world,  the  Earth- 
shaker,  is  gone  to  the  bright  sea,  shunning  our  utter  wrath,  ay, 
and  had  he  not  done  so,  even  the  others  would  have  heard 
of  our  strife,  even  the  gods  of  the  nether  world,  that  are  with 
Kronos.  But  better  far  is  this,  both  for  me,  and  for  him, 
that,  despite  his  wrath,  he  should  yield  to  my  hands,  for  not 
without  sweat  would  this  strife  have  been  accomplished.  But 
do  thou  take  in  thy  hands  the  tasselled  aegis,  and  shake  it 
fiercely  and  aflfright  the  Achaian  heroes.  But,  thou  Archer- 
God,  let  glorious  Hector  be  thy  care,  and  rouse  in  him  great 
wrath  even  till  the  Achaians  come  in  their  flight  to  the  ships, 
and  the  Hellespont.  And  from  that  moment  will  I  devise  word 
and  deed  wherewithal  the  Achaians  may  take  breath  again 
from  their  toil." 

So  spake  he,  nor  was  Apollo  deaf  to  the  word  of  the 
Father,  but  he  went  down  the  hills  of  Ida  like  a  fleet  falcon, 
the  bane  of  doves,  that  is  the  swiftest  of  flying  things.  And 
he  found  the  son  of  wise-hearted  Priam,  noble  Hector,  sitting 
up,  no  longer  lying,  for  he  had  but  late  got  back  his  life,  and 
knew  the  comrades  around  him,  and  his  gasping  and  his 
sweat  had  ceased,  from  the  moment  when  the  will  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus  began  to  revive  him.  Then  far-darting  Apollo 
stood  near  him,  and  spake  to  him:  "Hector,  son  of  Priam, 
why  dost  thou  sit  fainting  apart  from  the  others?  Is  it 
perchance  that  some  trouble  cometh  upon  thee?" 

Then,  with  faint  breath  answered  him  Hector  of  the  glanc- 
ing helm:  "Nay,  but  who  art  thou,  best  of  the  gods,  who 
enquirest  of  me  face  to  face?  Dost  thou  not  know  that  by 
the  hindmost  row  of  the  ships  of  the  Achaians,  Aias  of  the 
loud  war-cry  smote  me  on  the  breast  with  a  stone,  as  I  was 
slaying  his  comrades,  and  made  me  cease  from  mine  impetuous 
might?  And  verily  I  deemed  that  this  very  day  I  should  pass 
to  the  dead,  and  the  house  of  Hades,  when  I  had  gasped  my 
life  away." 

Then  prince  Apollo  the  Far-darter  answered  him  again: 
"Take  courage  now,  so  great  an  ally  hath  the  son  of  Kronos 
sent  thee  out  of  Ida,  to  stand  by  thee  and  defend  thee,  even 
Phoebus  Apollo  of  the  golden  sword,  me  who  of  old  defend 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  269 

thee,  thyself  and  the  steep  citadel.  But  come  now  bid  thy 
many  charioteers  drive  their  swift  steeds  against  the  hollow 
ships,  and  I  will  go  before  and  make  smooth  all  the  way  for 
the  chariots,  and  will  put  to  flight  the  Achaian  heroes." 

So  he  spake,  and  breathed  great  might  into  the  shepherd 
of  the  host,  and  even  as  when  a  stalled  horse,  full  fed  at  the 
manger,  breaks  his  tether  and  speedeth  at  the  gallop  over 
the  plain  exultingly,  being  wont  to  bathe  in  the  fair-flowing 
stream,  and  holds  his  head  on  high,  and  the  mane  floweth  about 
his  shoulders,  and  he  trusteth  in  his  glory,  and  nimbly  his 
knees  bear  him  to  the  haunts  and  pasture  of  the  mares,  even 
so  Hector  lightly  moved  his  feet  and  knees,  urging  on  his 
horsemen,  when  he  heard  the  voice  of  the  god.  But  as  when 
the  hounds  and  country  folk  pursue  a  horned  stag,  or  a  wild 
goat,  that  steep  rock  and  shady  wood  save  from  them,  nor 
is  it  their  lot  to  find  him,  but  at  their  clamour  a  bearded  lion 
hath  shown  himself  on  the  way,  and  lightly  turned  them  all 
despite  their  eagerness,  even  so  the  Danaans  for  a  while  fol- 
lowed on  always  in  their  companies,  smiting  with  swords  and 
double-pointed  spears,  but  when  they  saw  Hector  going  up 
and  down  the  ranks  of  men,  then  were  they  afraid,  and  the 
hearts  of  all  fell  to  their  feet. 

Then  to  them  spake  Thoas,  son  of  Andralmon,  far  the 
best  of  the  Aitolians,  skilled  in  throwing  the  dart,  and  good 
in  close  fight,  and  in  council  did  few  of  the  Achaians  surpass 
him,  when  the  young  men  were  striving  in  debate;  with  good 
intent  he  made  harangue  and  spake  among  them:  "Alas,  and 
verily  a  great  marvel  is  this  I  behold  with  mine  eyes,  how  he 
hath  again  arisen,  and  hath  avoided  the  Fates,  even  Hector. 
Surely  each  of  us  hoped  in  his  heart,  that  he  had  died  beneath 
the  hand  of  Aias,  son  of  Telamon.  But  some  one  of  the 
gods  again  hath  delivered  and  saved  Hector,  who  verily  hath 
loosened  the  knees  of  many  of  the  Danaans,  as  methinks  will 
befall  even  now,  for  not  without  the  will  of  loud-thundering 
Zeus  doth  he  rise  in  the  front  ranks,  thus  eager  for  battle. 
But  come,  as  I  declare  let  us  all  obey.  Let  us  bid  the  throng 
turn  back  to  the  ships,  but  let  us  as  many  as  avow  us  to  be 
the  best  in  the  host,  take  our  stand,  if  perchance  first  we  may 
meet  him,  and  hold  him  off  with  outstretched  spears,  and  he, 


270  HOMER 

methinks,  for  all  his  eagerness,  will  fear  at  heart  to  enter  into 
the  press  of  the  Danaans." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  heard  him  eagerly,  and  obeyed  him. 
They  that  were  with  Aias  and  the  prince  Idomeneus,  and 
Teukros,  and  Meriones,  and  Meges  the  peer  of  Ares,  called  to 
all  the  best  of  the  warriors  and  sustained  the  fight  with  Hector 
and  the  Trojans,  but  behind  them  the  multitude  returned  to 
the  ships  of  the  Achaians. 

Now  the  Trojans  drave  forward  in  close  ranks,  and  with 
long  strides  Hector  led  them,  while  in  front  of  him  went 
Phoebus  Apollo,  his  shoulders  wrapped  in  cloud,  and  still  he 
held  the  fell  aegis,  dread,  circled  with  a  shaggy  fringe,  and 
gleaming,  that  Hephaistos  the  smith  gave  to  Zeus,  to  bear  for 
the  terror  of  men ;  with  this  in  his  hands  did  he  lead  the  host. 

Now  the  Argives  abode  them  in  close  ranks,  and  shrill 
the  cry  arose  on  both  sides,  and  the  arrows  leaped  from  the 
bow-strings,  and  many  spears  from  stalwart  hands,  whereof 
some  stood  fast  in  the  flesh  of  young  men  swift  in  fight, 
but  many  halfway,  ere  ever  they  reached  the  white  flesh, 
stuck  in  the  ground,  longing  to  glut  themselves  with  flesh. 
Now  so  long  as  Phoebus  Apollo  held  the  aegis  unmoved  in  his 
hands,  so  long  the  darts  smote  either  side  amain,  and  the  folk 
fell.  But  when  he  looked  face  to  face  on  the  Danaans  of  the 
swift  steeds,  and  shook  the  aegis,  and  himself  shouted  mightily, 
he  quelled  their  heart  in  their  breast,  and  they  forgot  their 
impetuous  valour.  And  as  when  two  wild  beasts  drive  in 
confusion  a  herd  of  kine,  or  a  great  flock  of  sheep,  in  tlie 
dark  hour  of  black  night,  coming  swiftly  on  them  when  tlie 
herdsman  is  not  by,  even  so  were  the  Achaians  terror-stricken 
and  strengthless,  for  Apollo  sent  a  panic  among  them,  but 
still  gave  renown  to  the  Trojans  and  Hector. 

Then  man  fell  upon  man,  when  the  close  fight  was  scat- 
tered. Hector  slew  Stichios,  and  Arkesilaos,  one  a  leader  of 
the  mail-clad  Boiotians,  the  other  the  true  comrade  of  great- 
hearted Menestheus.  And  Aineias  slew  Medon  and  lasos, 
whereof  one  was  the  bastard  son  of  divine  Oileus.  even 
Medon,  brother  of  Aias,  but  he  dwelt  in  Phylake,  far  from  his 
own  country,  for  that  he  had  slain  a  man  the  brother  of  his 
stepmother  Eriopis,  the  wife  of  Oileus.     But  lasos  was  a 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  271 

leader  of  the  Athenians,  and  was  called  the  son  of  Sphelos, 
the  son  of  Boukolos.  And  Polydamas  slew  Mekisteus,  and 
Polites  Echios  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  and  noble  Agenor 
overcame  Klonios.  And  Deiochos  as  he  was  flying  among  the 
fighters  in  the  foremost  rank  Paris  smote  behind  the  lower 
part  of  the  shoulder,  and  drave  the  bronze  clean  through. 

Now  while  they  were  stripping  the  spoil  from  these,  even 
then  the  Achaians  were  dashing  into  the  delved  fosse,  and 
against  the  palisade,  fleeing  hither  and  thither  in  their  terror, 
and  were  driven  perforce  within  the  wall,  but  Hector  called 
with  a  loud  shout  to  the  Trojans :  "Make  ye  against  the  ships, 
and  leave  the  bloody  spoils.  Whomsoever  I  shall  see  apart 
from  the  ships  on  the  other  side,  his  death  will  I  there  devise, 
nor  forthwith  shall  his  kinsmen  and  kinswomen  lay  him  dead 
on  the  funeral  fire,  but  dogs  shall  tear  him  in  front  of  our 
citadel." 

So  speaking  he  smote  his  horses  on  the  shoulder  with 
the  lash,  and  called  aloud  on  the  Trojans  along  the  ranks. 
And  they  all  cried  out,  and  level  with  his  held  the  steeds 
that  drew  their  chariots,  with  a  marvellous  din,  and  in  front 
of  them  Phoebus  Apollo  lightly  dashed  down  with  his  feet 
the  banks  of  the  deep  ditch,  and  cast  them  into  the  midst 
thereof,  making  a  bridgeway  long  and  wide  as  is  a  spearcast, 
when  a  man  throws  to  make  trial  of  his  strength.  Thereby 
the  Trojans  poured  forward  in  their  battalions,  while  in  their 
van  Apollo  held  the  splendid  aegis.  And  most  easily  did  he 
cast  down  the  wall  of  the  Achaians,  as  when  a  boy  scatters 
the  sand  beside  the  sea,  first  making  sand  buildings  for  sport 
in  his  childishness,  and  then  again,  in  his  sport,  confounding 
them  with  his  feet  and  hands;  even  so  didst  thou,  archer 
Apollo,  confound  the  long  toil  and  labour  of  the  Argives,  and 
among  them  rouse  a  panic  fear. 

So  they  were  halting,  and  abiding  by  the  ships,  calling 
each  to  other;  and  lifting  their  hands  to  all  the  gods  did  each 
man  pray  vehemently,  and  chiefly  prayed  Gerenian  Nestor,  the 
Warden  of  the  Achaians,  stretching  his  hand  towards  the 
starry  heaven:  "O  father  Zeus,  if  ever  any  one  of  us  in 
wheat-bearing  Argos  did  burn  to  thee  fat  thighs  of  bull  or 
sheep,  and  prayed  that  he  might  return,  and  thou  didst  promise 


272  HOMER 

and  assent  thereto,  of  these  things  be  thou  mindful,  and  avert, 
Olympian,  the  pitiless  day,  nor  suffer  the  Trojans  thus  to 
overcome  the  Achaians." 

So  spake  he  in  his  prayer,  and  Zeus,  the  Lord  of  counsel, 
thundered  loudly,  hearing  the  prayers  of  the  ancient  son  of 
Neleus. 

But  the  Trojans,  when  they  heard  the  thunder  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus,  rushed  yet  the  more  eagerly  upon  the  Argives, 
and  were  mindful  of  the  joy  of  battle.  And  as  when  a  great 
wave  of  the  wide  sea  sweeps  over  the  bulwarks  of  a  ship,  the 
might  of  the  wind  constraining  it,  which  chiefly  swells  the 
waves,  even  so  did  the  Trojans  with  a  great  cry  bound  over 
the  wall,  and  drave  their  horses  on,  and  at  the  hindmost  row 
of  the  ships  were  fighting  hand  to  hand  with  double-pointed 
spears,  the  Trojans  from  the  chariots,  but  the  Achaians  climb- 
ing up  aloft,  from  the  black  ships  with  long  pikes  that  they  had 
lying  in  the  ships  for  battle  at  sea,  jointed  pikes  shod  at  the 
head  with  bronze. 

Now  Patroklos,  as  long  as  the  Achaians  and  Trojans  were 
fighting  about  the  wall,  without  the  swift  ships,  sat  in  the 
hut  of  kindly  Eurypylos,  and  was  making  him  glad  with  talk, 
and  on  his  cruel  wound  was  laying  herbs,  to  medicine  his  dark 
pain.  But  when  he  perceived  the  Trojans  rushing  over  the 
wall,  and  the  din  and  flight  of  the  Danaans  began,  then  did 
he  groan,  and  smote  his  two  thighs  with  his  hands  flatlings, 
and  sorrowing  he  spake:  "Eurypylos,  no  longer  at  all  may  I 
abide  with  thee  here,  though  great  thy  need,  for  verily  a  great 
strife  has  arisen.  But  thee  let  thy  squire  comfort,  while  I 
hasten  to  Achilles,  that  I  may  urge  him  to  join  the  battle. 
Who  knows  but  with  god's  help  I  may  arouse  his  spirit  with 
my  persuasion?  and  a  good  thing  is  the  persuasion  of  a  friend." 

Even  as  he  spake,  his  feet  were  bearing  him  away,  but 
the  Achaians  abode  the  onset  of  the  Trojans  steadfastly,  yet 
availed  not  to  drive  them,  though  fewer  they  were,  from  the 
ships :  neither  at  all  could  the  Trojans  break  the  ranks  of  the 
Danaans  and  pour  among  the  huts  and  the  ships.  But  even 
as  the  carpenter's  line  doth  straighten  the  timber  of  a  ship, 
in  the  hands  of  a  cunning  shipwright  that  is  well  skilled  in  all 
craft,  by  the  inspiration  of  Athene,  so  equally  was  strained 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  273 

their  war  and  battle,  and  divers  of  them  were  fighting  about 
divers  ships.  Now  Hector  made  for  renowned  Aias,  and  they 
twain  were  warring  about  the  same  ship,  nor  could  the  one 
drive  back  the  other  and  set  fire  to  the  ship,  nor  could  the 
other  thrust  him  away,  since  the  god  urged  him  on.  There 
did  glorious  Aias  smite  Kaletor  son  of  Klytios  in  the  breast 
with  a  spear,  as  he  was  carrying  fire  against  the  ship,  and  he 
fell  with  a  crash,  and  the  torch  dropped  from  his  hand.  But 
Hector,  when  he  beheld  with  his  eyes  his  cousin  fallen  in  the 
dust,  in  front  of  the  black  ship,  called  with  a  loud  cry  to  the 
Trojans  and  Lykians:  "Ye  Trojans,  and  Lykians,  and  Dar- 
danians  that  fight  hand  to  hand,  slacken  not  at  all  from  the 
battle  in  this  strait,  but  save  the  son  of  Klytios;  lest  the 
Achaians  spoil  him  of  his  harness,  now  that  he  hath  fallen  in 
the  precinct  of  the  ships." 

So  spake  he,  and  hurled  at  Aias  with  a  shining  spear;  and 
Aias  he  missed,  but  Lykophron,  the  son  of  Mastor,  the 
Kytherian  squire  of  Aias,  who  dwelt  with  him,  having  slain 
a  man  in  divine  Kythera,  him  Hector  smote  on  the  head 
above  the  ear  with  the  sharp  bronze,  even  as  he  stood  near 
Aias ;  and  backward  in  the  dust  he  fell  to  earth  from  the  stern 
of  the  ship,  and  his  limbs  were  loosened.  And  Aias  shud- 
dered, and  spake  to  his  brother:  "Dear  Teukros,  lo  our  true 
comrade  hath  been  slain,  even  the  son  of  Mastor  out  of  Kythera 
whom  we  honoured  at  home  in  the  halls  like  our  own  parents. 
Him  hath  great-hearted  Hector  slain.  Where  now  are  thy 
swift  shafts  of  doom,  and  the  bow  that  Phoebus  Apollo 
gave  thee  ?" 

So  spake  he,  and  the  other  marked  him,  and  ran,  and 
came  and  stood  close  by  him,  with  the  bended  bow  in  his  hand, 
and  the  quiver  with  the  arrows,  and  right  swiftly  he  showered 
his  shafts  upon  the  Trojans.  And  he  smote  Kleitos,  the  splen- 
did son  of  Peisenor,  the  comrade  of  Polydamas,  the  haughty 
son  of  Panthoos,  with  the  reins  in  his  hand,  as  he  was  busy 
with  the  horses,  for  thither  was  he  driving  them  where  far  the 
most  of  the  companies  were  broken  in  confusion,  and  he  was 
showing  a  favour  to  Hector  and  the  Trojans.  But  swiftly  on 
himself  came  his  bane,  that  not  one  of  them  could  ward  off 
from  him,  despite  their  desire.    For  the  woful  arrow  lighted 


274  HOMER 

on  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  he  fell  from  the  chariot,  and  back 
started  his  horses,  shaking  the  empty  car.  But  straightway  the 
prince  Polydamas  beheld  it,  and  was  the  first  to  come  over 
against  the  horses.  Them  he  gave  to  Astynoos,  the  son  of 
Protiaon,  and  enjoined  him  straitly  to  hold  the  horses  close 
at  hand,  and  look  on,  and  himself  went  back,  and  mingled  with 
the  foremost  fighters.  Then  Teukros  aimed  another  shaft 
against  Hector  of  the  helm  of  bronze,  and  would  have  made 
cease  the  battle  by  the  ships  of  the  Achaians,  if  he  had  smitten 
him  in  his  prowess  and  taken  his  life  away.  But  he  escaped 
notthe  wise  mind  of  Zeus,  who  guarded  Hector,  but  took  away 
the  praise  from  Teukros  son  of  Telamon,  for  he  brake  the 
well-twisted  string  on  the  goodly  bow,  even  as  Teukros  was 
aiming  at  Hector,  and  his  arrow  weighted  with  bronze 
wandered  otherwhere,  and  the  bow  fell  from  his  hands.  But 
Teukros  shuddered,  and  spake  to  his  brother  saying:  "Alas, 
now  verily  the  god  breaks  altogether  the  purpose  of  our  battle, 
in  that  he  hath  cast  the  bow  from  my  hand,  and  hath  broken 
the  newly  twisted  cord,  which  I  bound  on  but  this  morning, 
that  it  might  sustain  the  many  shafts  that  should  leap  from 
the  bow." 

Then  the  great  Aias  son  of  Telamon  answered  him  saying : 
"  Yea,  friend,  but  let  the  bow  and  the  many  arrows  lie,  even  so, 
since  the  god  has  confounded  them,  being  jealous  of  the  Da- 
naans,  but  take  in  thy  hands  a  long  spear,  and  a  shield  on  thy 
shoulder,  and  war  with  the  Trojans,  and  arouse  the  rest  of  the 
host.  Verily  not  without  labour,  for  all  their  victory,  let  them 
take  the  well-timbered  ships;  nay,  let  us  be  mindful  of  the 
delight  of  battle." 

So  spake  he,  and  Teukros  set  the  bow  within  the  huts 
again,  but  round  his  shoulder  he  set  a  fourfold  shield,  and  on 
his  mighty  head  a  well-wrought  helmet,  with  a  horse-hair 
plume,  and  terribly  the  crest  nodded  above.  And  he  seized  a 
strong  spear,  shod  with  sharp  bronze,  and  started  on  his  way, 
and  started  and  running  right  speedily  stood  beside  Aias. 

But  when  Hector  saw  the  artillery  of  Teukros  harmed, 
he  cried,  with  a  mighty  shout,  to  the  Trojans  and  Lykians: 
"Trojans,  and  Lykians,  and  Dardanians  that  love  close  fight, 
play  the  man,  my  friends,  and  be  mindful  of  impetuous  valour. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  275 

here  by  the  hollow  ships,  for  I  have  seen  with  mine  eyes,  how 
the  artillery  of  the  bravest  warrior  was  harmed  by  Zeus.  And 
most  easily  discerned  is  the  aid  of  Zeus  to  men,  both  to  whomso 
he  gives  the  meed  of  the  greater  honour,  and  whom  he  would 
minish  and  hath  no  will  to  aid,  as  even  now  he  minisheth  the 
strength  of  the  Argives,  but  us  he  aideth.  But  fight  in  your 
firm  companies  at  the  ships,  and  whosoever  of  you  be  smitten 
by  dart  or  blow  and  meeteth  death  and  fate,  so  let  him  die. 
Lo,  it  is  no  dishonourable  thing  for  him  to  fall  fighting  for 
his  country,  but  his  wife  and  his  children  after  him  are  safe, 
and  his  house  unharmed,  and  his  lot  of  land,  if  but  the  Acha- 
ians  fare  with  their  ships  to  their  dear  native  land." 

So  spake  he  and  aroused  the  might  and  the  spirit  of 
every  man. 

But  Aias  again,  on  the  other  side,  called  unto  his  comrades : 
"Shame  on  you,  Argives:  now  is  one  thing  sure,  either  that 
we  must  perish  utterly,  or  be  saved  and  drive  the  peril  from 
the  ships.  Think  ye  that  if  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  take 
the  ships,  ye  will  come  by  dry  land  each  to  his  own  country  ? 
Hear  ye  not  Hector  exhorting  all  the  host,  so  eager,  verily,  is 
he  to  burn  the  ships?  Truly  he  bids  not  men  to  the  dance 
but  to  battle.  And  for  us  there  is  no  better  counsel  nor  device, 
but  to  put  forth  our  hands  and  all  our  might  in  close  combat. 
Better  it  were  to  risk  life  or  death,  once  for  all,  than  long  to 
be  straitened  in  the  dread  stress  of  battle,  thus  vainly  by  the 
ships,  at  the  hands  of  worse  men  than  we  be." 

So  spake  he,  and  aroused  the  might  and  the  spirit  of  every 
man.  Then  Hector  slew  Schedios,  the  son  of  Perimedes,  a 
leader  of  the  Phokians,  while  Aias  slew  Laodamas,  the  leader 
of  the  foot-men,  the  noble  son  of  Antenor,  and  Polydamas 
slew  Otos,  of  Kyllene,  comrade  of  Phyleides,  a  chief  of  the 
high-hearted  Epeians.  And  Meges,  when  he  beheld  it  rushed 
on  him,  but  Polydamas  stooped  downwards,  and  him  Meges 
missed — for  Apollo  suffered  not  the  son  of  Panthoos  to  be 
smitten  among  the  foremost  fighters — but  he  wounded  Krois- 
mos  in  the  midst  of  the  breast  with  his  spear.  And  he  fell 
with  a  crash,  and  the  other  set  to  stripping  the  harness  from 
his  shoulders.  Then  Dolops  rose  against  him,  a  warrior  skilled, 
Dolops  son  of  Lampos,  whom  Lampos  Laomedon's  son  begat, 


276  HOMER 

his  bravest  son,  well  skilled  in  impetuous  valour;  who  then 
smote  the  midst  of  the  shield  of  Phyleus'  son,  setting  on  him 
at  close  quarters.  But  his  well-wrought  corslet  guarded  him,' 
the  corslet  that  he  wore,  fashioned  of  plates  of  mail.  This 
corslet  did  Phyleus  once  bear  out  of  Ephyre,  from  the  river 
Selleeis.  For  a  guest  friend  of  his  had  given  him  the  same, 
even  Euphetes,  king  of  men,  that  he  might  bear  it  in  war,  a 
defence  against  foemen;  and  now  from  his  son's  flesh  too  it 
warded  off  his  bane.  Now  Meges  smote  with  sharpened  spear 
at  the  topmost  crest  of  his  helmet  of  bronze  with  horse-hair 
plume,  and  brake  off  his  plume  of  horse-hair,  and  it  all  fell 
earthward  in  the  dust,  shining  with  its  new  scarlet  dye.  Now 
while  he  abode,  and  fought,  and  yet  hoped  for  victory,  there 
came  against  him  to  the  rescue  warlike  Menelaos,  and  stood 
unmarked  on  his  flank  with  his  spear,  and  smote  him  on  the 
shoulder  from  behind,  and  the  eager  spear  rushed  through  his 
breast,  in  forward  flight,  and  then  fell  he  forward.  Then 
the  twain  made  for  him  to  strip  from  his  shoulders  his  harness 
of  bronze.  But  Hector  called  to  all  his  kinsmen,  and  first  he 
chid  the  son  of  Hiketaon,  the  strong  Melanippos.  Now  till 
then  was  Melanippos  wont  to  feed  his  kine  of  trailing  gait  in 
Perkote,  far  off  from  hostile  men,  but  when  the  curved  ships 
of  the  Danaans  came,  he  returned  to  Ilios,  and  excelled  among 
the  Trojans,  and  dwelt  hard  by  Priam,  who  honoured  him 
equally  with  his  own  children.  Him  did  Hector  chide,  and 
spake  out,  and  called  him  by  name:  "Melanippos,  are  we  to 
be  thus  slack?  Is  thy  heart  not  moved  at  all,  at  sight  of  thy 
kinsman  slain?  Seest  thou  not  how  they  are  busied  about  the 
harness  of  Dolops  ?  nay,  follow  on,  for  no  longer  may  we  fight 
with  the  Argives  from  afar,  till  either  we  slay  them,  or  they 
utterly  take  steep  Ilios,  and  slay  her  people." 

So  spake  he,  and  led  on,  while  the  other  followed  him,  a 
godlike  man.  But  the  great  Aias,  son  of  Telamon,  exhorted 
the  Argives,  saying:  "O  friends,  play  the  man,  and  take 
shame  in  your  hearts;  yea,  have  shame  each  of  the  other's 
contempt,  in  the  strong  battle.  For  of  men  thus  shame  fast 
more  escape  than  fall,  but  of  men  that  flee  cometh  neither 
glory,  nor  any  avail." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  likewise  themselves  were  eager  to 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  277 

drive  off  the  others,  and  laid  up  his  word  in  their  hearts,  and 
begirt  the  ships  with  a  ring  of  bronze,  while  Zeus  urged  on 
the  Trojans.  Then  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  exhorted 
Antilochos,  "Antilochos,  not  one  of  the  Achaians  is  younger 
than  thou,  nor  swifter  of  foot,  nor  strong  as  art  thou  in  fight; 
see  now  if  thou  canst  leap  out,  and  smite  some  man  of  the 
Trojans." 

So  spake  he,  and  hasted  back  again,  having  heartened  the 
other,  and  forth  Antilochos  leaped  from  the  foremost  ranks, 
and  cast  his  shining  spear,  glancing  all  around  him,  and  the 
Trojans  gave  ground  before  him  when  he  threw.  And  no  vain 
dart  threw  he,  but  smote  Melanippos,  the  proud  son  of  Hike- 
taon,  as  he  was  returning  to  the  combat ;  on  the  breast  hard  by 
the  nipple  he  smote  him.  And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  dark- 
ness covered  his  eyes.  And  Antilochos  set  on  like  a  hound 
that  rushes  upon  a  wounded  fawn,  that  the  hunter  hath  aimed 
at  and  smitten  as  it  leaped  from  its  lair,  and  hath  loosened  all 
its  limbs.  Even  so  upon  thee,  Melanippos,  leaped  Antilochos 
steadfast  in  battle,  to  spoil  thy  harness.  But  noble  Hector 
marked  him,  and  came  running  against  him  through  the  battle. 
But  Antilochos  abode  not  his  onset,  swift  warrior  though  he 
was,  but  he  fled,  like  a  wild  beast  that  hath  done  some  evil 
thing,  having  slain  a  dog,  or  a  herdsman  by  the  kine,  and  flees, 
before  the  press  of  men  can  gather;  even  so  fled  the  son 
of  Nestor.  Now  the  Trojans  and  Hector,  with  wonderful 
clamour,  showered  upon  him  their  dolorous  darts,  but  he 
turned  and  stood,  when  he  had  reached  the  host  of  his 
comrades. 

Now  the  Trojans,  like  ravening  lions,  rushed  upon  the 
ships,  fulfilling  the  behests  of  Zeus,  that  ever  was  rousing 
their  great  wrath,  but  softened  the  temper  of  the  Argives,  and 
took  away  their  glory,  while  he  spurred  on  the  others.  For 
the  heart  of  Zeus  was  set  on  giving  glory  to  Hector,  the  son 
of  Priam,  that  withal  he  might  cast  fierce-blazing  fire, 
unwearied,  upon  the  beaked  ships,  and  so  fulfil  all  the  pre- 
sumptuous prayer  of  Thetis ;  wherefore  wise-counselling  Zeus 
awaited,  till  his  eyes  should  see  the  glare  of  a  burning  ship. 
For  even  from  that  hour  was  he  to  ordain  the  backward  chase 
of  the  Trojans   from  the  ships,  and  to  give  glory  to  the 


278  HOMER 

Danaans.  With  this  design  was  he  rousing  Hector,  Priam's 
son,  that  himself  was  right  eager,  against  the  hollow  ships. 
And  he  was  raging,  like  Ares,  the  brandisher  of  the  spear,  or 
as  when  ruinous  fire  rages  on  the  hills,  in  the  folds  of  a  deep 
woodland ;  and  foam  grew  about  his  mouth,  and  his  eyes  shone 
beneath  his  dreadful  brows,  and  around  the  temples  of  Hector 
as  he  fought  his  helm  shook  terribly.  For  Zeus  out  of  heaven 
was  his  ally,  and  gave  him  honour  and  renown,  he  being  but 
one  man  against  so  many.  For  short  of  life  was  he  to  be,  yea, 
and  already  Pallas  Athene  was  urging  against  him  the  day 
of  destiny,  at  the  hand  of  the  son  of  Peleus.  And  fain  he  was 
to  break  the  ranks  of  men,  trying  them  wheresoever  he  saw 
the  thickest  press,  and  the  goodliest  harness.  Yet  not  even  so 
might  he  break  them  for  all  his  eagerness.  Nay,  they  stood 
firm,  and  embattled  like  a  steep  rock  and  a  great,  hard  by  the 
hoary  sea,  a  rock  that  abides  the  swift  paths  of  the  shrill 
winds,  and  the  swelling  waves  that  roar  against  it.  Even  so 
the  Danaans  steadfastly  abode  the  Trojans,  and  fled  not  away. 
But  Hector  shining  with  fire  on  all  sides  leaped  on  the  throng, 
and  fell  upon  them,  as  when  beneath  the  storm-clouds  a  fleet 
wave  reared  of  the  winds  falls  on  a  swift  ship,  and  she  is  all 
hidden  with  foam,  and  the  dread  blast  of  the  wind  roars 
against  the  sail,  and  the  sailors  fear,  and  tremble  in 
their  hearts,  for  by  but  a  little  way  are  they  borne  forth 
from  death,  even  so  the  spirit  was  torn  in  the  breasts  of 
the  Achaians.  But  he  came  on  like  a  ravening  lion  making 
against  the  kine,  that  are  feeding  innumerable  in  the  low-lying 
land  of  a  great  marsh,  and  among  them  is  a  herdsman  that  as 
yet  knoweth  not  well  how  to  fight  with  a  wild  beast  concerning 
the  slaughter  of  the  kine  of  crooked  horn,  and  ever  he  paces 
abreast  with  the  rear  or  the  van  of  the  cattle,  but  the  lion  leaps 
into  the  midst,  and  devours  a  cow,  and  they  all  tremble  for 
fear,  even  so  the  Achaians  all  were  made  terribly  adread  by 
Hector  and  father  Zeus.  But  Hector  slew  Periphetes  of 
Mykene  only,  the  dear  son  of  Kopreus,  that  was  wont  to  go 
on  the  errands  of  Eurystheus,  to  the  mighty  Herakles.  From 
him,  a  far  baser  father,  was  born  a  better  son,  in  all  manner 
of  excellence,  in  fleetness  of  foot,  and  in  war,  and  of  mind  he 
was  wise  among  the  first  of  the  Mykenaeans.     He  thus  then 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XV  279 

yielded  Hector  the  greater  glory.  For  as  he  turned  back,  he 
tripped  against  the  rim  of  his  shield  which  he  was  wont  to 
bear,  a  shield  that  reached  to  the  feet,  a  fence  against  javelins 
— thereon  he  stumbled,  and  fell  back,  and  his  helm  rang  won- 
drously  around  his  temples  as  he  fell.  And  Hector  quickly 
spied  it,  and  ran  up  swiftly  and  stood  by  him,  and  fixed  a 
spear  in  his  breast,  and  slew  him  hard  by  his  dear  comrades 
that  could  not  aid  him,  despite  all  their  sorrow  for  their  friend, 
for  themselves  greatly  dreaded  noble  Hector. 

Now  were  they  come  between  the  ships,  and  the  prows 
protected  them,  the  prows  of  the  ships  drawn  up  in  the  first 
line,  but  the  Trojans  rushed  in  after  them.  And  the  Argives 
were  compelled  even  of  necessity  to  give  back  from  the  fore- 
most ships,  yet  there  they  abode  in  close  rank  beside  the 
huts,  and  did  not  scatter  throughout  the  camp.  For  shame 
and  fear  restrained  them  and  ceaselessly  they  kept  shouting 
each  to  other.  Now  Gerenian  Nestor  above  all,  the  Warden 
of  the  Achaians,  implored  each  man  by  the  memory  of  them 
that  begat  him,  and  spake  l^eseechingly :  "O  friends,  play 
the  man,  and  set  shame  of  other  men's  contempt  in  your 
hearts.  Let  each  also  be  mindful  of  children  and  wives,  and 
of  his  possessions,  and  of  them  that  begat  him,  whether  any 
have  parents  yet  alive  or  they  be  already  dead.  For  their  sake 
do  I  here  beseech  you,  for  the  sake  of  them  that  are  not  with 
us,  to  stand  stoutly,  nor  turn  to  flight." 

So  spake  he,  and  roused  each  man's  courage  and  might, 
and  from  their  eyes  Athene  lifted  the  wondrous  cloud  of  mist, 
and  light  came  mightily  upon  them  from  either  side,  both  from 
the  side  of  the  ships,  and  from  the  quarter  of  even-balanced 
war.  And  they  beheld  Hector  of  the  loud  war-cry,  and  his 
comrades,  both  them  that  stood  in  the  rear  and  were  not  fight- 
ing, and  all  them  that  fought  in  the  battle  by  the  swift  ships. 

Nor  yet  did  it  please  the  spirit  of  high-hearted  Aias,  to 
stand  in  the  place  whereto  the  other  sons  of  the  Achaians  had 
withdrawn,  but  he  kept  faring  with  long  strides,  up  and  down 
the  decks  of  the  ships,  and  he  wielded  in  his  hands  a  great 
pike  for  sea-battles,  jointed  with  rings,  two  and  twenty  cubits 
in  length.  And  even  as  a  man  right  well  skilled  in  horseman- 
ship that  couples  four  horses  out  of  many,  and  hurrying  them 


280  HOMER 

from  the  plain  towards  a  great  city,  drives  along  the  public 
way,  many  men  and  women  marvelHng  on  him,  and  firmly 
ever  he  leaps,  and  changes  his  stand  from  horse  to  horse,  while 
they  fly  along,  even  so  Aias  went  with  long  strides,  over  many 
a  deck  of  the  swift  ships,  and  his  voice  went  up  unto  heaven. 
And  always  with  terrible  cries  he  summoned  the  Danaans  to 
defend  the  ships  and  the  huts.  Nor  did  Hector  abide  in  the 
throng  of  well-armed  Trojans,  but  even  as  a  tawny  eagle  rushes 
on  a  flock  of  winged  fowl,  that  are  feeding  by  a  riverside,  a 
flock  of  geese,  or  cranes,  or  long-necked  swans,  even  so  Hector 
made  straight  for  a  black-beaked  ship,  rushing  right  on  it,  and 
mightily  Zeus  urged  him  on  from  behind  with  his  strong  hand, 
and  roused  on  the  host  along  with  him. 

So  again  keen  battle  was  set  by  the  ships.  Thou  wouldst 
deem  that  unwearied  and  unworn  they  met  each  other  in  war, 
so  eagerly  they  fought.  And  in  their  striving  they  were  minded 
thus;  the  Achaians  verily  deemed  that  never  would  they  flee 
from  the  danger,  but  perish  there,  but  the  heart  of  each  Tro- 
jan hoped  in  his  breast,  that  they  should  fire  the  ships,  and 
slay  the  heroes  of  the  Achaians.  With  these  imaginations  they 
stood  to  each  other,  and  Hector  seized  the  stern  of  a  seafaring 
ship,  a  fair  ship,  swift  on  the  brine,  that  had  borne  Protesilaos 
to  Troia,  but  brought  him  not  back  again  to  his  own  country. 
Now  round  his  ship  the  Achaians  and  Trojans  warred  on  each 
other  hand  to  hand,  nor  far  apart  did  they  endure  the  flights 
of  arrows,  nor  of  darts,  but  standing  hard  each  by  other,  with 
one  heart,  with  sharp  axes  and  hatchets  they  fought,  and  with 
great  swords,  and  double-pointed  spears.  And  many  fair 
brands,  dark-scabbarded  and  hiked,  fell  to  the  ground,  some 
from  the  hands,  some  from  off  the  shoulders  of  warring  men, 
and  the  black  earth  ran  with  blood.  But  Hector,  after  that 
once  he  had  seized  the  ship's  stern,  left  not  his  hold,  keeping 
the  ensign  in  his  hands,  and  he  called  to  the  Trojans :  "Bring 
fire,  and  all  with  one  voice  do  ye  raise  the  war-cry ;  now  hath 
Zeus  given  us  the  dearest  day  of  all, — to  take  the  ships  that 
came  hither  against  the  will  of  the  gods,  and  brought  many 
woes  upon  us,  by  the  cowardice  of  the  elders,  who  withheld 
me  when  I  was  eager  to  fight  at  the  sterns  of  the  ships,  and 
kept  back  the  host.    But  if  even  then  far-seeing  Zeus  did  harm 


THE    ILIAD-BOOK   XVI  281 

our  wits,  now  he  himself  doth  urge  and  command  us  onwards." 
So  spake  he,  and  they  set  yet  the  fiercer  on  the  Argives. 
And  Aias  no  longer  abode  their  onset,  for  he  was  driven  back 
by  the  darts,  but  he  withdrew  a  little, — thinking  that  now  he 
should  die,^ — onto  the  oarsmen's  bench  of  seven  feet  long,  and 
he  left  the  decks  of  the  trim  ship.  There  then  he  stood  on  the 
watch,  and  with  his  spear  he  ever  drave  the  Trojans  from  the 
ships,  whosoever  brought  unwearied  fire,  and  ever  he  shouted 
terribly,  calling  to  the  Danaans:  "O  friends,  Danaan  heroes, 
men  of  Ares'  company,  play  the  man,  my  friends,  and  be 
mindful  of  impetuous  valour.  Do  we  deem  that  there  be 
allies  at  our  backs,  or  some  wall  stronger  than  this  to  ward  off 
death  from  men?  Verily  there  is  not  hard  by  any  city  arrayed 
with  towers,  whereby  we  might  defend  ourselves,  having  a  host 
that  could  turn  the  balance  of  battle.  Nay,  but  we  are  set  down 
in  the  plain  of  the  mailed  men  of  Troy,  with  our  backs  against 
the  sea,  and  far  off  from  our  own  land.  Therefore  is  safety  in 
battle,  and  not  in  slackening  from  the  fight." 

So  spake  he,  and  rushed  on  ravening  for  battle,  with  his 
keen  spear.  And  whosoever  of  the  Trojans  was  coming  against 
the  ship  with  blazing  fire,  to  pleasure  Hector  at  his  urging, 
him  would  Aias  wound,  awaiting  him  with  his  long  spear,  and 
twelve  men  in  front  of  the  ships  at  close  quarters  did  he  wound. 


BOOK  XVI 

How  Patroklos  fought  in  the  armour  of  Achilles,  and  drove  the 
Trojans  from  the  ships,  but  was  slain  at  last  by  Hector. 

So  they  were  warring  round  the  well-timbered  ship,  but 
Patroklos  drew  near  Achilles,  shepherd  of  the  host,  and  he  shed 
warm  tears,  even  as  a  fountain  of  dark  water  that  down  a  steep 
cliff  pours  its  cloudy  stream.  And  noble  swift-footed  Achilles 
when  he  beheld  him  was  grieved  for  his  sake,  and  accosted  him, 
and  spake  winged  words,  saying:  "Wherefore  weepest  thou, 
Patroklos,  like  a  fond  little  maid,  that  runs  by  her  mother's 
side,  and  bids  her  mother  take  her  up,  snatching  at  her  gown, 


282  HOMER 

and  hinders  her  in  her  going,  and  tearfully  looks  at  her,  till  the 
mother  takes  her  up?  like  her,  Patroklos,  dost  thou  let  fall  soft 
tears.  Hast  thou  aught  to  tell  to  the  Myrmidons,  or  to  me  my- 
self, or  is  it  some  tidings  out  of  Phthia  that  thou  alone  hast 
heard?  They  say  that  Menoitios  son  of  Aktor  still  lives :  and 
Peleus  son  of  Aiakos  lives  yet  among  the  Myrmidons,  for  which 
twain,  were  they  dead,  right  sore  would  we  sorrow.  Or  dost 
thou  lament  for  the  sake  of  the  Argives, — how  they  perish  by 
the  hollow  ships  through  their  own  transgression  ?  Speak  out, 
and  hide  it  not  within  thy  spirit,  that  we  may  both  know  all." 

;^ut  with  a  heavy  groan  didst  thou  speak  unto  him,  O  knight 
Patroklos :  "O  Achilles,  son  of  Peleus,  far  the  bravest  of  the 
Achaians,  be  not  wroth,  seeing  that  so  great  calamity  has  beset 
the  Achaians.  For  verily  all  of  them  that  aforetime  were  the 
best  are  lying  among  the  ships,  smitten  and  wounded.  Smit- 
ten is  the  son  of  Tydeus,  strong  Diomedes,  and  wounded  is 
Odysseus,  spearman  renowned,  and  Agamemnon ;  and  smitten 
is  Eurypylos  on  the  thigh  with  an  arrow.  And  about  them  the 
leeches  skilled  in  medicines  are  busy,  healing  their  wounds,  but 
thou  art  hard  to  reconcile,  Achilles.  Never  then  may  such 
wrath  take  hold  of  me  as  that  thou  nursest ;  thou  brave  to  the 
hurting  of  others.  What  other  man  later  born  shall  have  profit 
of  thee,  if  thou  dost  not  ward  off  base  ruin  from  the  Argives? 
Pitiless  that  thou  art,  the  knight  Peleus  was  not  then  thy  father, 
nor  Thetis  thy  mother,  but  the  grey  sea  bare  thee,  and  the  sheer 
cliffs,  so  untoward  is  thy  spirit.  But  if  in  thy  heart  thou  art 
shunning  some  oracle,  and  thy  lady  mother  hath  told  thee  some- 
\vhat  from  Zeus,  yet  me  do  thou  send  forth  quickly,  and  make 
the  rest  of  the  host  of  the  Myrmidons  follow  me,  if  yet  any 
light  may  arise  from  me  to  the  Danaans.  And  give  me  thy 
harness  to  buckle  about  my  shoulders,  if  perchance  the  Tro- 
jans may  take  me  for  thee,  and  so  abstain  from  battle,  and  the 
warlike  sons  of  the  Achaians  may  take  breath,  wearied  as  they 
be,  for  brie'f  is  the  breathing  in  war.  And  lightly  might  we 
that  are  fresh  drive  men  wearied  with  the  battle  back  to  the  cita- 
del, away  from  the  ships  and  the  huts." 

So  he  spake  and  besought  him,  in  his  unwittingness,  for 
truly  it  was  to  be  his  own  evil  death  and  fate  that  he  prayed  for. 
Then  to  him  in  great  heaviness  spake  swift-footed  Achilles: 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  283 

"Ah  me,  Patroklos  of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  what  word  hast  thou 
spoken?  Neither  take  I  heed  of  any  oracle  that  I  wot  of,  nor 
yet  has  my  lady  mother  told  me  somewhat  from  Zeus,  but  this 
dread  sorrow  comes  upon  my  heart  and  spirit,  from  the  hour 
that  a  man  wishes  to  rob  me  who  am  his  equal,  and  to  take 
away  my  prize,  for  that  he  excels  me  in  power.  A  dread  sor- 
row to  me  in  this,  after  all  the  toils  that  my  heart  hath  endured. 
The  maiden  that  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  chose  out  for  me  as 
my  prize,  and  that  I  won  with  my  spear  when  I  sacked  a  well- 
walled  city,  her  has  mighty  Agamemnon  the  son  of  Atreus 
taken  back  out  of  my  hands,  as  though  I  were  but  some  sojour- 
ner dishonourable.  But  we  will  let  bygones  be  bygones.  No 
man  may  be  angry  of  heart  for  ever,  yet  verily  I  said  that  I 
would  not  cease  from  my  wrath,  until  that  time  when  to  mine 
own  ships  should  come  the  war-cry  and  the  battle.  But  do  thou 
on  thy  shoulders  my  famous  harness,  and  lead  the  war-loving 
Myraiidons  to  the  fight,  if  indeed  the  dark  cloud  of  the  Tro- 
jans hath  mightily  surrounded  the  ships,  and  if  the  Argives  are 
driven  back  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  holding  but  a  narrow  space 
of  land,  and  the  whole  town  of  Troy  hath  come  boldly  against 
them.  Yea,  for  they  behold  not  the  vizor  of  my  helm  shining 
liard  at  hand ;  swiftly  would  they  flee,  and  fill  the  watercourses 
with  dead,  if  mighty  Agamemnon  had  been  but  kindly  to  me, — 
but  now  are  they  warring  round  the  camp.  For  not  in  the 
hands  of  Diomedes,  the  son  of  Tydeus,  rageth  the  spear,  to 
ward  off  destruction  from  the  Danaans.  Neither  as  yet  have 
I  heard  the  voice  of  the  son  of  Atreus,  shouting  out  of  his  hated 
mouth,  but  of  Hector  the  slayer  of  men  doth  the  voice  burst 
around  me,  as  he  calls  on  the  Trojans,  and  they  with  their  cries 
fill  all  the  plain,  overcoming  the  Achaians  in  the  battle.  But 
even  so,  Patroklos,  to  ward  off  destruction  from  the  ships,  do 
thou  fall  on  mightily,  lest  they  even  burn  the  ships  with  blaz- 
ing fire,  and  take  away  our  desired  return.  But  do  thou  obey, 
even  as  I  shall  put  into  thy  mind  the  end  of  my  commandment, 
that  in  my  sight  thou  mayst  win  great  honour  and  fame  of  all 
the  Danaans,  and  they  may  give  me  back  again  the  fairest 
maiden,  and  thereto  add  splendid  gifts.  When  thou  hast  driven 
them  from  the  ships,  return,  and  even  if  the  loud-thundering 
lord  of  Hera  grant  thee  to  win  glory,  yet  long  not  thou  apart 


284  HOMER 

from  me  to  fight  with  the  war-loving  Trojans;  thereby  wilt 
thou  minish  mine  honour.  Neither  do  thou,  exulting  in  war 
and  strife,  and  slaying  the  Trojans,  lead  on  toward  Ilios,  lest 
one  of  the  eternal  gods  from  Olympus  come  against  thee ;  right 
dearly  doth  Apollo  the  Far-darter  love  them.  Nay,  return  back 
when  thou  hast  brought  safety  to  the  ships,  and  suffer  the  rest 
to  fight  along  the  plain.  For  would,  O  father  Zeus,  and  Athene, 
and  Apollo,  would  that  not  one  of  all  the  Trojans  might  escape 
death,  nor  one  of  the  Argives,  but  that  we  twain  might  avoid 
destruction,  that  alone  we  might  undo  the  sacred  coronal  of 
Troy." 

So  spake  they  each  to  other,  but  Aias  no  longer  abode  the 
o»set,  for  he  was  overpowered  by  darts;  the  counsel  of  Zeus 
was  subduing  him,  and  the  shafts  of  the  proud  Trojans;  and 
his  bright  helmet,  being  smitten,  kept  ringing  terribly  about  his 
temples :  for  always  it  was  smitten  upon  the  fair-wrought  cheek 
pieces.  Moreover  his  left  shoulder  was  wearied,  as  steadfastly 
he  held  up  his  glittering  shield,  nor  yet  could  they  make  him 
give  ground,  as  they  pressed  on  with  their  darts  around  him. 
And  ever  he  was  worn  out  with  difficult  breath,  and  much  sweat 
kept  running  from  all  his  limbs,  nor  had  he  a  moment  to  draw 
breath,  so  on  all  sides  was  evil  heaped  on  evil. 

Tell  me  now,  ye  Muses  that  have  mansions  in  Olympus, 
how  first  fire  fell  on  the  ships  of  the  Achaians.  Hector  drew 
near,  and  the  ashen  spear  of  Aias  he  smote  with  his  great  sword 
hard  by  the  socket,  behind  the  point,  and  shore  it  clean  away, 
and  the  son  of  Telamon  brandished  in  his  hand  no  more  than  a 
pointless  spear,  and  far  from  him  the  head  of  bronze  fell  ring- 
ing on  the  ground. 

And  Aias  knew  in  his  noble  heart,  and  shuddered  at  the 
deeds  of  the  gods,  even  how  Zeus  that  thundereth  on  high  did 
utterly  cut  off  from  him  avail  in  war,  and  desired  victory  for 
the  Trojans.  Then  Aias  gave  back  out  of  the  darts.  But  the 
Trojans  cast  on  the  swift  ship  unwearying  fire,  and  instantly 
the  inextinguishable  flame  streamed  over  her :  so  the  fire  begirt 
the  stern,  whereon  Achilles  smote  his  thighs,  and  spake  to 
Patroklos :  "Arise,  Patroklos  of  the  seed  of  Zeus,  commander 
of  the  horsemen,  for  truly  I  see  by  the  ships  the  rush  of  the 
consuming  fire.     Up  then,  lest  they  take  the  ships,  and  there 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  285 

be  no  more  retreat;  do  on  thy  harness  speedily,  and  I  will 
summon  the  host." 

So  spake  he,  while  Patroklos  was  harnessing  him  in  shining 
bronze.  His  goodly  greaves,  fitted  with  silver  clasps,  he  first 
girt  round  his  legs,  and  next  did  on  around  his  breast  the  well- 
dight  starry  corslet  of  the  swift-footed  son  of  Aiakos.  And 
round  his  shoulders  he  cast  a  sword  of  bronze,  with  studs  of 
silver,  and  next  took  the  great  and  mighty  shield,  and  on  his 
proud  head  set  a  well-wrought  helm  with  a  horse-hair  crest, 
and  terribly  nodded  the  crest  from  above.  Then  seized  he  two 
strong  lances  that  fitted  his  grasp,  only  he  took  not  the  spear  of 
the  noble  son  of  Aiakos,  heavy,  and  huge,  and  stalwart,  that 
none  other  of  the  Achaians  could  wield,  but  Achilles  alone 
availed  to  wield  it :  even  the  ashen  Pelian  spear  that  Cheiron 
gave  to  his  father  dear,  from  a  peak  of  Pelion,  to  be  the  death 
of  warriors.  And  Patroklos  bade  Automedon  to  yoke  the 
horses  speedily,  even  Automedon  whom  most  he  honoured 
after  Achilles,  the  breaker  of  the  ranks  of  men,  and  whom  he 
held  trustiest  in  battle  to  abide  his  call.  And  for  him  Autome- 
don led  beneath  the  yoke  the  swift  horses,  Xanthos  and  Balios, 
that  fly  as  swift  as  the  winds,  the  horses  that  the  harpy  Po- 
darge  bare  to  the  West  Wind,  as  she  grazed  on  the  meadow 
by  the  stream  of  Okeanos.  And  in  the  side-traces  he  put  the 
goodly  Pedasos,  that  Achilles  carried  away,  when  he  took  the 
city  of  Eetion ;  and  being  but  a  mortal  steed,  he  followed  with 
the  immortal  horses. 

Meanwhile  Achilles  went  and  harnessed  all  the  Myrmidons 
in  the  huts  with  armour,  and  they  gathered  like  ravening 
wolves  with  strength  in  their  hearts  unspeakable,  that  have 
slain  a  great  horned  stag  in  the  hills  and  rend  him  piecemeal ; 
and  all  their  jaws  are  red  with  blood,  and  in  a  herd  they  go, 
to  lap  with  their  thin  tongues  the  surface  of  the  dark  water  in 
a  dusky  well,  belching  out  the  blood  of  the  slaughter,  their 
heart  steadfast  within  their  breasts,  and  their  bellies  swollen 
even  so  hastened  the  leaders  and  chiefs  of  the  Myrmidons 
around  the  good  squire  of  swift-footed  Achilles.  And  among 
them  all  stood  warlike  Achilles  urging  on  the  horses  and  the 
targeteers. 

Fifty  were  the  swift  ships  which  Achilles,  beloved  of  Zeus, 


286  HOMER 

led  to  Troia,  and  in  each  ship  on  the  benches  sat  fifty  men  his 
comrades,  and  five  leaders  he  made,  wherein  he  trusted  to  give 
command,  and  himself  with  great  lordship  was  chief  of  them 
all.  One  rank  led  Menesthios  of  the  shining  corslet,  the  son 
of  Spercheios,  the  River  that  falleth  from  Zeus.  Him  did 
the  daughter  of  Peleus  bear,  beautiful  Polydora,  to  tireless 
Spercheios,  a  woman  couched  with  a  god.  But  by  name  was 
he  the  son  of  Boros,  Perieres'  son,  who  openly  wedded  her, 
giving  countless  gifts  of  wooing.  And  the  next  company  did 
warlike  Eudoros  lead,  the  son  of  an  unwedded  girl,  and  him 
bare  Polymele,  fair  in  the  dance,  the  daughter  of  Ph3las.  Her 
did  the  strong  slayer  of  Argus  love,  when  he  had  beheld  her 
with  his  eyes  among  the  singing  maidens,  in  the  choir  of 
Artemis,  the  swift-rushing  goddess  of  the  golden  arrows. 
Then  straightway  he  went  up  into  her  upper  chamber,  and  lay 
with  her  secretly,  even  Hermes  the  bearer  of  all  things  good, 
and  gat  by  her  a  glorious  son,  Eudoros,  swift  of  foot  and  a 
man  of  war.  But  when  Eilithyia,  goddess  of  the  pains  of 
travail,  had  brought  him  to  the  light,  and  he  saw  the  rays  of 
the  sun,  then  the  strong  Echekles,  son  of  Aktor,  led  Polymele 
to  his  halls,  after  he  had  given  countless  gifts  of  wooing,  but 
Eudoros  did  the  old  Phylas  rear  well  and  nourish  tenderly, 
loving  him  dearly  as  he  had  been  his  own  son. 

And  the  third  company  led  warlike  Peisandros,  the  son  of 
Maimalos,  most  excellent  among  the  Myrmidons  in  fighting 
with  the  spear,  after  the  comrade  of  the  son  of  Peleus.  And 
the  ancient  knight  Phoinix  led  the  fourth  company,  and  the 
fifth  Alkimedon  the  noble  son  of  Laerkes  led.  But  when 
Achilles  had  stationed  them  all,  and  arrayed  them  well  with 
their  leaders,  he  laid  on  them  a  strong  command:  "Myrmi- 
dons, let  me  find  none  of  you  forgetful  of  the  threats  where- 
with by  the  swift  ships  ye  threatened  the  Trojans,  through  all 
the  time  of  my  wrath,  and  ye  did  each  accuse  me,  saying, 
'Hard-hearted  son  of  Peleus,  surely  on  gall  thy  mother  reared 
thee,  thou  pitiless  one  that  restrainest  thy  comrades  at  the  ships, 
against  their  will.  Nay,  homewards  let  us  return  again  with 
our  seafaring  ships,  since  such  an  evil  wrath  has  sunk  into  thy 
heart.'  Even  thus  did  ye  often  clamour  against  me  in  your 
gatherings,  but  now  hath  appeared  the  mighty  work  of  war, 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  287 

wherewith  in  time  past  ye  were  in  love.  Therefore  let  each 
man  keep  a  stout  heart  in  the  battle  with  the  Trojans." 

So  spake  he,  and  aroused  the  heart  and  valour  of  each  of 
them,  and  the  ranks  were  yet  the  closer  serried  when  they 
heard  the  prince.  And  as  when  a  man  builds  the  wall  of  a 
high  house  with  close-set  stones,  to  avoid  the  might  of  the 
winds,  even  so  close  were  arrayed  the  helmets  and  bossy 
shields,  and  shield  pressed  on  shield,  helm  on  helm,  and  man 
on  man,  and  the  horse-hair  crests  on  the  bright  helmet-ridges 
touched  each  other  when  they  nodded,  so  close  they  stood  by 
each  other. 

But  in  front  of  them  all  were  two  men  harnessed,  Patroklos 
and  Automedon,  both  of  one  heart,  to  war  in  the  van  of  the 
Myrmidons.  But  Achilles  went  into  his  hut,  and  opened  the 
lid  of  a  fair  and  well-wrought  coffer,  that  silver-footed  Thetis 
placed  on  board  his  ship  to  carry  with  him,  and  filled  it  well 
with  doublets  and  cloaks  to  keep  the  wind  away,  and  thick 
carpets.  Therein  had  he  a  fair-fashioned  cup,  and  neither 
was  any  other  man  wont  to  drink  therefrom  the  bright  wine, 
nor  to  any  other  god  was  he  wont  to  do  libation  therewith,  save 
to  Zeus  the  Father  only.  This  cup  he  took  from  the  coffer, 
and  first  purified  it  with  brimstone,  and  then  washed  it  in  fair 
streams  of  water,  and  himself  washed  his  hands,  and  drew 
bright  wine.  Then  prayed  he,  standing  in  the  mid-court,  and 
poured  forth  the  wine,  looking  up  to  heaven,  and  Zeus  that 
hath  joy  of  the  thunder  was  ware  of  him:  "King  Zeus,  Do- 
donaean,  Pelasgian,  thou  that  dwellest  afar,  ruling  over  wintry 
Dodona — and  around  thee  dwell  the  Selloi,  thy  prophets,  with 
unwashen  feet,  and  couching  on  the  ground, — even  as  once 
thou  didst  hear  my  voice  in  prayer,  and  didst  honour  me,  and 
mightily  afflict  the  host  of  the  Achaians,  even  now  too  fulfil 
for  me  this  my  desire.  For  I  myself  will  abide  in  the  gather- 
ing of  the  ships,  but  my  comrade  I  send  with  many  Myrmi- 
dons to  war:  to  him  do  thou  speed  the  victory,  O  far-seeing 
Zeus,  and  strengthen  his  heart  within  him,  that  Hector  too 
may  know  whether  my  squire  hath  skill  to  war  even  alone, — or 
whether  his  hands  invincible  rage  only  when  I  enter  the  moil 
of  war.  But  when  he  has  driven  from  the  ships  the  war  and 
din  of  battle,  scatheless  then  let  him  return  to  me  at  the  swift 


288  HOMER 

ships  with  all  his  arms,  and  his  comrades  that  fight  hand  to 

hand." 

So  spake  he  in  his  prayer,  and  wise-counselling  Zeus  heard 
him,  and  the  Father  granted  part  to  him,  and  part  he  denied. 
He  granted  him  that  Patroklos  should  drive  the  war  and  the 
fight  from  the  ships,  but  denied  him  to  return  safe  out  of  the 
fight.  Then  Achilles,  having  made  libation  and  prayer  to 
father  Zeus,  went  back  into  his  hut,  and  placed  the  cup  in  the 
coffer  again,  and  came  forth  and  stood  in  front  of  his  hut,  for 
still  his  heart  desired  to  see  the  dread  strife  of  the  Trojans  and 
Achaians. 

But  they  that  were  armed  about  the  high-hearted  Patroklos 
marched  forward  till  iJiey  rushed  in  their  pride  on  the  Trojans. 
And  straightway  they  poured  forth  like  wasps  that  have  their 
dwelling  by  the  wayside,  and  that  boys  are  ever  wont  to  vex, 
always  tormenting  them  in  their  nests  beside  the  way  in  child- 
ish sport,  and  a  common  evil  they  make  for  many.  And  they, 
if  ever  some  wayfaring  man  passing  by  stir  them  unwittingly, 
fly  forth  every  one  of  them,  with  a  heart  of  valour,  and  each 
defends  his  children;  with  heart  and  spirit  like  theirs  the 
Myrmidons  poured  out  now  from  the  ships,  and  a  cry  arose 
unquenchable,  and  Patroklos  called  on  his  comrades,  shouting 
aloud:  "Myrmidons,  ye  comrades  of  Achilles  son  of  Peleus, 
be  men,  my  friends,  and  be  mindful  of  your  impetuous  valour, 
that  so  we  may  win  honour  for  the  son  of  Peleus,  that  is  far 
the  bravest  of  the  Argives  by  the  ships,  and  whose  close-fight- 
ing squires  are  the  best.  And  let  wide-ruling  Agamemnon  the 
son  of  Atreus  learn  his  own  blindness  of  heart,  in  that  he 
nothing  honoured  the  best  of  the  Achaians." 

So  spake  he,  and  aroused  each  man's  heart  and  courage, 
and  all  in  a  mass  they  fell  on  the  Trojans,  and  the  ships  around 
echoed  wondrously  to  the  cry  of  the  Achaians.  But  when  the 
Trojans  beheld  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios,  himself  and  his 
squire,  shining  in  their  armour,  the  heart  was  stirred  in  all  of 
them,  and  the  companies  wavered,  for  they  deemed  that  by 
the  ships  the  swift-footed  son  of  Peleus  had  cast  away  his 
wrath,  and  chosen  reconcilement :  then  each  man  glanced 
round,  to  see  where  he  might  flee  sheer  destruction. 

But  Patroklos  first  with  a  shining  spear  cast  straight  into 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  289 

the  press,  where  most  men  were  thronging,  even  by  the  stern 
of  the  ship  of  great-hearted  Protesilaos,  and  he  smote  Py- 
raichmes,  who  led  his  Paionian  horsemen  out  of  Amydon,  from 
the  wide  water  of  Axios;  him  he  smote  on  the  right  shoulder, 
and  he  fell  on  his  back  in  the  dust  with  a  groan,  and  his  com- 
rades around  him,  the  Paeonians,  were  afraid,  for  Patroklos 
sent  fear  among  them  all,  when  he  slew  their  leader  that  was 
ever  the  best  in  fight.  Then  he  drove  them  out  from  the  ships, 
and  quenched  the  burning  fire.  And  the  half-burnt  ship  was 
left  there,  and  the  Trojans  fled,  with  a  marvellous  din,  and  the 
Danaans  poured  in  among  the  hollow  ships,  and  ceaseless  was 
the  shouting.  And  as  when  from  the  high  crest  of  a  great 
hill  Zeus,  the  gatherer  of  the  lightning,  hath  stirred  a  dense 
cloud,  and  forth  shine  all  the  peaks,  and  sharp  promontories, 
and  glades,  and  from  heaven  the  infinite  air  breaks  open,  even 
so  the  Danaans,  having  driven  the  blazing  fire  from  the  ships, 
for  a  little  while  took  breath,  but  there  was  no  pause  in  the 
battle.  For  not  yet  were  the  Trojans  driven  in  utter  rout  by 
the  Achaians,  dear  to  Ares,  from  the  black  ships,  but  they  still 
stood  up  against  them,  and  only  perforce  gave  ground  from 
the  ships. 

Then  man  slew  man  of  the  chieftains,  in  the  scattered  fight. 
First  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios  smote  the  thigh  of  Areily- 
kos,  at  the  moment  when  he  turned,  with  a  sharp  spear,  and 
drave  the  bronze  clean  through,  and  the  spear  brake  the  bone, 
and  he  fell  on  his  face,  on  the  ground.  Meanwhile  warlike 
Menelaos  wounded  Thoas  on  his  breast  where  it  was  left  un- 
covered, by  the  edge  of  the  shield,  and  loosened  his  limbs. 
And  Phyleides  watched  Amphiklos  as  he  set  on,  and  was  be- 
forehand with  him,  stretching  forward  at  the  thigh,  where  a 
man's  muscle  is  thickest,  and  the  sinews  were  rent  with  the 
point  of  the  spear,  and  darkness  covered  his  eyes.  And  as 
for  the  sons  of  Nestor,  one  of  them,  Antilochos,  smote  Atym- 
nios  with  the  sharp  spear,  and  drave  the  spear  of  bronze 
through  his  flank,  and  he  fell  forward.  But  hard  at  hand 
Maris  rushed  on  Antilochos  with  the  spear,  in  wrath  for  his 
brother's  sake,  and  stood  in  front  of  the  dead;  but  godlike 
Thrasymedes  was  beforehand  with  him,  and  smote  forward 
instantly  at  his  shoulder  ere  he  could  deal  a  wotmd,  and  missed 


290  HOMER 

not,  for  the  point  of  the  spear  rent  the  root  of  the  arm  from 
the  muscles,  and  tore  it  to  the  bone.  Then  fell  he  with  a  crash, 
and  darkness  covered  his  eyes.  So  these  twain,  subdued  by 
the  two  brothers,  went  to  Erebos,  even  the  noble  comrades  of 
Sarpedon,  the  warrior  sons  of  Amisodaros,  that  reared  the 
invincible  Chimaira,  the  bane  of  many  a  man.  But  Aias  son 
of  Oileus  rushed  on  Cleoboulos,  and  took  him  alive,  entangled 
in  the  press;  so  even  there  he  loosened  his  might,  and  smote 
him  on  the  neck  with  the  hiked  sword.  And  all  the  blade  was 
warm  with  his  blood,  and  dark  death  closed  his  eyes,  and 
mighty  Fate. 

Then  Peneleps  and  Lykon  ran  together,  for  with  their 
spears  they  missed  each  other,  yea,  both  had  cast  in  vain,  and 
instantly  they  ran  together  with  their  swords.  There  Lykon 
smote  the  socket  of  the  horse-hair  crest,  and  his  sword  brake 
at  the  hilt,  but  Peneleos  smote  his  neck  behind  the  ear,  and  all 
the  blade  sank  in,  and  naught  but  the  skin  held,  and  the  head 
hung  slack,  and  loosened  were  his  limbs. 

Now  Meriones  overtook  Akamas  with  swift  strides,  and 
smote  him  on  the  right  shoulder,  as  he  went  up  into  his 
chariot,  and  he  slipped  out  of  his  chariot,  and  mist  was  poured 
over  his  eyes.  And  Idomeneus  wounded  Erymas  on  the 
mouth  with  the  pitiless  bronze,  and  the  spear  of  bronze  went 
clean  through  below,  beneath  the  brain,  and  shattered  his  white 
bones,  and  his  teeth  were  shaken  out,  and  both  his  eyes  were 
filled  with  blood,  and  he  blew  blood  up  through  mouth  and 
nostrils  as  he  gaped,  and  the  black  cloud  of  death  covered  him 
about. 

Thus  those  leaders  of  the  Danaans  slew  each  his  man. 
But  even  as  robber  wolves  fall  on  the  lambs  or  kids,  choosing 
them  out  of  the  herds,  when  they  are  scattered  on  hills  by  the 
witlessness  of  the  shepherd,  and  the  wolves  behold  it,  and 
speedily  harry  the  younglings  that  have  no  heart  of  courage, 
—even  so  the  Danaans  fell  on  the  Trojans,  and  they  were 
mindful  of  ill-sounding  flight,  and  forgot  their  impetuous 
valour. 

But  that  great  Aias  ever  was  fain  to  cast  his  spear  at 
Hector  of  the  helm  of  bronze,  but  he,  in  his  cunning  of  war, 
covered  his  broad  shoulders  with  his  shield  of  bull's  hide,  and 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XVI  291 

watched  the  hurtling  of  the  arrows,  and  the  noise  of  spears. 
And  verily  well  he  knew  the  change  in  the  mastery  of  war, 
but  even  so  he  abode,  and  was  striving  to  rescue  his  trusty 
comrades. 

And  as  when  from  Olympus  a  cloud  fares  into  heaven, 
from  the  sacred  air,  when  Zeus  spreadeth  forth  the  tempest, 
even  so  from  the  ships  came  the  war-cry  and  the  rout,  nor  in 
order  due  did  they  cross  the  ditch. again.  But  his  swift-footed 
horses  bare  Hector  forth  with  his  anns,  and  he  left  the  host  of 
Troy,  whom  the  delved  trench  restrained  against  their  will. 
And  in  the  trench  did  many  swift  steeds  that  draw  the  car 
break  the  fore-part  of  the  pole,  and  leave  the  chariots  of  their 
masters. 

But  Patroklos  followed  after,  crying  fiercely  to  the  Dan- 
aans,  and  full  of  evil  will  against  the  Trojans,  while  they 
with  cries  and  flight  filled  all  the  ways,  for  they  were  scattered, 
and  on  high  the  storm  of  dust  was  scattered  below  the  clouds, 
and  the  whole-hooved  horses  strained  back  towards  the  city, 
away  from  the  ships  and  the  huts. 

But  even  where  Patroklos  saw  the  folk  thickest  in  the 
rout,  thither  did  he  guide  his  horses  with  a  cry,  and  under 
his  axle-trees  men  fell  prone  from  their  chariots,  and  the  cars 
were  overturned  with  a  din  of  shattering.  But  straight  over 
the  ditch,  in  forward  flight,  leaped  the  swift  immortal  horses 
that  the  gods  gave  for  glorious  gifts  to  Peleus.  And  the 
heart  of  Patroklos  urged  him  against  Hector,  for  he  was  eager 
to  smite  him,  but  his  swift  steeds  bore  Hector  forth  and  away. 
And  even  as  beneath  a  tempest  the  whole  black  earth  is 
oppressed,  on  an  autumn  day,  when  Zeus  pours  forth  rain 
most  vehemently,  being  in  wrath  and  anger  against  men,  who 
judge  crooked  judgments  forcefully  in  the  assembly,  and  drive 
justice  out,  and  reck  not  of  the  vengeance  of  the  gods,  and  all 
their  rivers  run  full,  and  many  a  scaur  the  torrents  tear  away, 
and  down  to  the  dark  sea  they  rush  headlong  from  the  hills, 
roaring  mightily,  and  minished  are  the  works  of  men,  even  so 
mighty  was  the  roar  of  the  Trojan  horses  as  they  ran. 

Now  Patroklos  when  he  had  cloven  the  nearest  companies, 
drave  them  backward  again  to  the  ships,  nor  suffered  them 
to  approach  the  city,  despite  their  desire,  but  between  the  ships. 


292  HOMER 

and  the  river,  and  the  lofty  wall,  he  rushed  on  them,  and  slew 
them,  and  avenged  many  a  comrade  slain.  There  first  he 
smote  Pronoos  with  a  shining  spear,  where  the  shield  left  bare 
the  breast,  and  loosened  his  limbs,  and  he  fell  with  a  crash. 
Then  Thestor  the  son  of  Enops  he  next  assailed,  as  he  sat 
crouching  in  the  polished  chariot,  for  he  was  struck  distraught, 
and  the  reins  flew  from  his  hands.  Him  he  drew  near,  and 
smote  with  the  lance  on  the  right  jaw,  and  clean  pierced 
through  his  teeth.  And  Patroklos  caught  hold  of  the  spear 
and  dragged  him  over  the  rim  of  the  car,  as  when  a  man  sits 
on  a  jutting  rock,  and  drags  a  sacred  fish  forth  from  the  sea, 
with  line  and  glittering  hook  of  bronze ;  so  on  the  bright  spear 
dragged  he  Thestor  gaping  from  the  chariot,  and  cast  him 
down  on  his  face,  and  life  left  him  as  he  fell.  Next,  as 
Euryalos  came  on,  he  smote  him  on  the  midst  of  the  head  with 
a  stone,  and  all  his  head  was  shattered  within  the  strong  helmet, 
and  prone  on  the  earth  he  fell,  and  death  that  slayeth  the  spirit 
overwhelmed  him.  Next  Erymas,  and  Amphoteros,  and 
Epaltes  and  Tlepolemos  son  of  Damastor,  and  Echios  and 
Pyris,  and  Ipheus  and  Euippos,  and  Polymelos  son  of  Argeas, 
all  these  in  turn  he  brought  low  to  the  bounteous  earth.  But 
when  Sarpedon  beheld  his  comrades  with  ungirdled  doublets, 
subdued  beneath  the  hands  of  Patroklos  son  of  Menoitios,  he 
cried  aloud,  upbraiding  the  godlike  Lykians:  "Shame,  ye 
Lykians,  whither  do  ye  flee?  Now  be  ye  strong,  for  I  will 
encounter  this  man  that  I  may  know  who  he  is  that  conquers 
here,  and  verily  many  evils  hath  he  wrought  the  Trojans,  in 
that  he  hath  loosened  the  knees  of  many  men  and  noble." 

So  spake  he,  and  leaped  with  his  arms  from  the  chariot 
to  the  ground.  But  Patroklos,  on  the  other  side,  when  he 
beheld  him  leaped  from  his  chariot.  And  they,  like  vultures 
of  crooked  talons  and  curved  beaks,  that  war  with  loud  yells 
on  some  high  cliff,  even  so  they  rushed  with  cries  against  each 
other.  And  beholding  then  the  son  of  Kronos  of  the  crooked 
counsels  took  pity  on  them,  and  he  spake  to  Hera,  his  sister 
and  wife:  "Ah  woe  is  me  for  that  it  is  fated  that  Sarpedon, 
the  best-beloved  of  men  to  me,  shall  be  subdued  under  Patrok- 
los son  of  Menoitios.  And  in  two  ways  my  heart  within  my 
breast  is  divided,  as  I  ponder  whether  I  should  catch  him  up 


THE   ILIAD—BOOK   XVI  293 

alive  out  of  the  tearful  war,  and  set  him  down  in  the  rich  land 
of  Lykia,  or  whether  I  should  now  subdue  him  beneath  the 
hands  of  the  son  of  Menoitios." 

Then  the  ox-eyed  lady  Hera  made  answer  to  him :  "Most 
dread  son  of  Kronos,  what  word  is  this  thou  hast  spoken?  A 
mortal  man  long  doomed  to  fate  dost  thou  desire  to  deliver 
again  form  death  of  evil  name?  Work  thy  will,  but  all  we  other 
gods  will  in  nowise  praise  thee.  And  another  thing  I  will  tell 
thee,  and  do  thou  lay  it  up  in  thy  heart ;  if  thou  dost  send  Sarpe- 
don  living  to  his  own  house,  consider  lest  thereon  some  other 
god  likewise  desire  to  send  his  own  dear  son  away  out  of  the 
strong  battle.  For  round  the  great  citadel  of  Priam  war  many 
sons  of  the  Immortals,  and  amiong  the  Immortals  wilt  thou  send 
terrible  wrath.  But  if  he  be  dear  to  thee,  and  thy  heart  mourns 
for  him,  truly  then  suffer  him  to  be  subdued  in  the  strong 
battle  beneath  the  hands  of  Patroklos  son  of  Menoitios,  but 
when  his  soul  and  life  leave  that  warrior,  send  Death  and 
sweet  Sleep  to  bear  him,  even  till  they  come  to  the  land  of 
wide  Lykia,  there  will  his  kindred  and  friends  bury  him,  with  a 
barrow  and  a  pillar,  for  this  is  the  due  of  the  dead." 

So  spake  she,  nor  did  the  father  of  gods  and  men  disregard 
her.  But  he  shed  bloody  raindrops  on  the  earth,  honouring 
his  dear  son,  that  Patroklos  was  about  to  slay  in  the  deep- 
soiled  land  of  Troia,  far  off  from  his  own  country.  Now 
when  they  were  come  near  each  other  in  onset,  there  verily 
did  Patroklos  smite  the  renowned  Thrasymelos,  the  good  squire 
of  the  prince  Sarpedon,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  belly,  and 
loosened  his  limbs.  But  Sarpedon  missed  him  with  his  shin- 
ing javelin,  as  he  in  turn  rushed  on,  but  wounded  the  horse 
Pedasos  on  the  right  shoulder  with  the  spear,  and  he  shrieked 
as  he  breathed  his  life  away,  and  fell  crying  in  the  dust,  and 
his  spirit  fled  from  him.  But  the  other  twain  reared  this  way 
and  that,  and  the  yoke  creaked,  and  the  reins  were  confused 
on  them,  when  their  trace-horse  lay  in  the  dust.  But  thereof 
did  Automedon,  the  spearman  renowned,  find  a  remedy,  and 
drawing  his  long-edged  sword  from  his  stout  thigh,  he  leaped 
forth,  and  cut  adrift  the  horse,  with  no  delay,  and  the  pair 
righted  themselves,  and  strained  in  the  reins,  and  they  met 
ap-ain  in  life-devouring  war. 


294  HOMER 

Then  again  Sarpedon  missed  with  his  shining  dart,  and 
the  point  of  the  spear  flew  over  the  left  shoulder  of  Patroklos 
and  smote  him  not,  but  he  in  turn  arose  with  the  bronze,  and 
his  javelin  flew  not  vainly  from  his  hand,  but  struck  Sarpedon 
even  where  the  midriff  clasps  the  beating  heart.  And  he  fell 
as  falls  an  oak,  or  a  silver  poplar,  or  a  slim  pine  tree,  that  on 
the  hills  the  shipwrights  fell  with  whetted  axes,  to  be  timber 
for  shipbuilding;  even  so  before  the  horses  and  chariot  he  lay 
at  length,  moaning  aloud,  and  clutching  at  the  bloody  dust. 
And  as  when  a  lion  hath  fallen  on  a  herd,  and  slain  a  bull, 
tawny  anji  high  of  heart,  among  the  kine  of  trailing  gait,  and 
he  perishes  groaning  beneath  the  claws  of  the  lion,  even  so 
under  Patroklos  did  the  leader  of  the  Lykian  shieldmen  rage, 
even  in  death,  and  he  called  to  his  dear  comrade:  "Dear 
Glaukos,  warrior  among  warlike  men,  now  most  doth  it  behove 
thee  to  be  a  spearman,  and  a  hardy  fighter:  now  let  baneful 
war  be  dear  to  thee,  if  indeed  thou  art  a  man  of  might.  First 
fare  all  about  and  urge  on  the  heroes  that  be  leaders  of  the 
Lykians,  to  fight  for  Sarpedon,  and  thereafter  thyself  do  battle 
for  me  with  the  sword.  For  to  thee  even  in  time  to  come 
shall  I  be  shame  and  disgrace  for  ever,  all  thy  days,  if  the 
Achaians  strip  me  of  mine  armour,  fallen  in  the  gathering  of 
the  ships.     Nay,  hold  out  manfully,  and  spur  on  all  the  host." 

Even  as  he  spake  thus,  the  end  of  death  veiled  over  his  eyes 
and  his  nostrils,  but  Patroklos,  setting  foot  on  his  breast,  drew 
the  spear  out  of  his  flesh,  and  the  midriff  followed  with  the 
spear,  sD  that  he  drew  forth  together  the  spear  point,  and  the 
soul  of  Sarpedon;  and  the  Myrmidons  held  there  his  panting 
-steeds,  eager  to  fly  afar,  since  the  chariot  was  reft  of  its  lords. 

Then  dread  sorrow  came  on  Glaukos,  when  he  heard  the 
voice  of  Sarpedon,  and  his  heart  was  stirred,  that  he  availed 
not  to  succour  him.  And  with  his  hand  he  caught  and  held 
his  arm,  for  the  wound  galled  him,  the  wound  of  the  arrow 
wherewith,  as  he  pressed  on  towards  the  lofty  wall,  Teukros 
had  smitten  him,  warding  off  destruction  from  his  fellows. 
Then  in  prayer  spake  Glaukos  to  far-darting  Apollo :  "Hear,  O 
Prince  that  art  somewhere  in  the  rich  land  of  Lykia,  or  in 
Troia,  for  thou  canst  listen  everywhere  to  the  man  that  is  in 
need,  as  even  now  need  cometh  upon  me.     For  I  have  this 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  295 

stark  wound,  and  mine  arm  is  throughly  pierced  with  sharp 
pains,  nor  can  my  blood  be  stanched,  and  by  the  wound  is  my 
shoulder  burdened,  and  I  cannot  hold  my  spear  firm,  nor  go 
and  fight  against  the  enemy.  And  the  best  of  men  has  perished, 
Sarpedon,  the  son  of  Zeus,  and  he  succours  not  even  his  own 
child.  But  do  thou,  O  Prince,  heal  me  this  stark  wound,  and 
lull  my  pains,  and  give  me  strength,  that  I  may  call  on  my 
Lykian  kinsmen,  and  spur  them  to  the  war,  and  myself  may 
fight  about  the  dead  man  fallen." 

So  spake  he  in  his  prayer,  and  Phoebus  Apollo  heard  him. 
Straightway  he  made  his  pains  to  cease,  and  in  the  grievous 
wound  stanched  the  black  blood,  and  put  courage  into  his 
heart.  And  Glaukos  knew  it  within  him,  and  was  glad,  for 
that  the  great  god  speedily  heard  his  prayer.  First  went  he  all 
about  and  urged  on  them  that  were  leaders  of  the  Lykians  to 
fight  around  Sarpedon,  and  thereafter  he  went  with  long 
strides  among  the  Trojans,  to  Polydamas  son  of  Panthoos  and 
noble  Agenor,  and  he  went  after  Aineias,  and  Hector  of  the 
helm  of  bronze,  and  standing  by  them  spake  winged  words: 
"Hector,  now  surely  art  thou  utterly  forgetful  of  the  allies, 
that  for  thy  sake  far  from  their  friends  and  their  own  country, 
breathe  their  lives  away !  but  thou  carest  not  to  aid  them !  Sar- 
pedon lies  low,  the  leader  of  the  Lykian  shieldmen,  he  that 
defended  Lykia  by  his  dooms  and  his  might,  yea  him  hath 
mailed  Ares  subdued  beneath  the  spear  of  Patroklos.  But, 
friends,  stand  by  him,  and  be  angry  in  your  hearts  lest  the 
Myrmidons  strip  him  of  his  harness,  and  dishonour  the  dead, 
in  wrath  for  the  sake  of  the  Danaans,  even  them  that  perished, 
whom  we  slew  with  spears  by  the  swift  ships." 

So  spake  he,  and  sorrow  seized  the  Trojans  utterly,  ungov- 
ernable and  not  to  be  borne ;  for  Sarpedon  was  ever  the  stay 
of  their  city,  all  a  stranger  as  he  was,  for  many  people  followed 
with  him,  and  himself  the  best  warrior  of  them  all.  Then 
they  made  straight  for  the  Danaans  eagerly,  and  Hector  led 
them,  being  wroth  for  Sarpedon's  sake.  But  the  fierce  heart 
of  Patroklos  son  of  Menoitios  urged  on  the  Achaians.  And 
he  spake  first  to  the  twain  Aiantes  that  themselves  were  right 
eager:  "Aiantes,  now  let  defence  be  your  desire,  and  be  such 
as  afore  ye  were  among  men,  or  even  braver  yet.     That  man 


2%  HOMER 

lies  low  who  first  leaped  on  to  the  wall  of  the  Achaians,  even 
Sarpedon.  Nay,  let  us  strive  to  take  him,  and  work  his  body 
shame,  and  strip  the  harness  from  his  shoulders,  and  many  a 
one  of  his  comrades  fighting  for  his  sake  let  us  subdue  with 
the  pitiless  bronze." 

So  spake  he,  and  they  themselves  were  eager  in  defence. 
So  on  both  sides  they  strengthened  the  companies,  Trojans 
and  Lykians,  Myrmidons  and  Achaians,  and  they  joined  battle 
to  fight  around  the  dead  man  fallen;  terribly  they  shouted, 
and  l»ud  rang  the  harness  of  men.  But  Zeus  drew  baneful 
night  above  the  strong  battle,  that  round  his  dear  son  might 
be  the  woful  toil  of  war.  Now  first  the  Trojans  drove  back 
the  bright-eyed  Achaians,  for  a  man  in  no  wise  the  worst 
among  the  Myrmidons  was  smitten,  the  son  of  great-hearted 
Agakles,  goodly  Epeigeus,  who  ruled  fair-set  Boudeion  of  old, 
but  when  he  had  slain  a  good  man  of  his  kin,  to  Peleus  he 
came  as  a  suppliant,  and  to  silver-footed  Thetis.  And  they 
sent  him  to  follow  with  Achilles,  the  breaker  of  the  ranks  of 
men,  to  Ilios  of  the  goodly  steeds,  to  war  with  the  Trojans. 
Then  him,  as  he  was  laying  hold  of  the  dead  man,  did  renowned 
Hector  smite  on  the  head  with  a  stone,  and  all  his  head  was 
broken  in  twain  within  the  strong  helm,  and  prone  on  the 
dead  he  fell,  and  round  him  was  poured  death  that  slayeth  the 
spirit.  Then  grief  came  on  Patroklos  for  his  comrade  slain, 
and  he  rushed  through  the  foremost  fighters,  like  to  a  falcon 
swift  of  flight,  that  scareth  daws  and  starlings,  even  so  against 
the  Lykians,  O  Patroklos,  warrior-charioteer,  and  against  the 
Trojans  didst  thou  rush,  being  wroth  at  heart  for  thy  com- 
rade's sake.  And  he  smote  Sthenelaos,  the  dear  son  of  Ithai- 
menes,  on  the  neck,  with  a  stone,  and  brake  away  his  sinews. 
Then  back  drew  the  foremost  fighters,  and  renowned  Hector. 
And  as  far  as  is  the  flight  of  a  long  javelin,  that  a  man  casts, 
making  trial  of  his  skill,  either  in  a  contest  for  a  prize,  or  in 
war,  being  pressed  by  deadly  foemen,  so  far  did  the  Trojans 
draw  back,  and  the  Achaians  drave  them.  And  Glaukos  first, 
the  leader  of  the  Lykian  shieldmen,  turned  him  about,  and 
slew  Bathykles  great  of  heart,  the  dear  son  of  Chalkon,  that 
dwelt  in  his  home  in  Hellas,  and  for  wealth  and  riches  was 
pre-eminent  among  the  Myrmidons.    Him  did  Glaukos  wound 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  297 

in  the  mid-breast  with  a  spear,  turning  suddenly  about,  when 
Bathykles  was  about  to  seize  him  as  he  followed  hard  after 
him.  With  a  crash  he  fell,  and  great  woe  came  on  the  Acha- 
ians,  that  a  good  man  was  down,  but  mightily  did  the  Trojans 
rejoice.  And  they  all  thronged  around  him  and  stood  firm, 
nor  did  the  Achaians  forget  their  valour,  but  bare  their  might 
straight  down  on  them.  There  likewise  Meriones  slew  a  mailed 
warrior  of  the  Trojans,  Laogonos,  the  bold  son  of  Onetor, 
that  was  priest  of  Idaean  Zeus,  and  as  a  god  was  honoured  by 
the  people, — him  he  smote  beneath  the  jaw  and  the  ear,  and 
swiftly  his  spirit  departed  from  his  limbs,  and  so  loathly  dark- 
ness gat  hold  on  him.  And  Aineias  cast  against  Meriones  his 
spear  of  bronze,  for  he  hoped  to  smite  him  as  he  came  on 
beneath  the  shield.  But  he  kept  a  forward  watch,  and  avoided 
the  spear  of  bronze,  stooping  forward,  and  behind  him  the 
long  dart  stood  fast  in  the  ground,  but  the  butt  of  the  spear 
quivered,  and  there  then  strong  Ares  took  its  strength  away. 
And  the  spear  of  Aineias  sunk  quivering  into  the  earth,  since 
vainly  it  had  sped  from  his  strong  hand.  But  Aineias  was 
wroth  at  heart,  and  spake  aloud:  "Meriones,  swiftly  should 
my  spear  have  stopped  thy  dancing  for  ever,  good  dancer  as 
thou  art,  if  I  had  but  struck  thee." 

But  to  him  again  Meriones,  spearman  renowned,  replied: 
"Aineias,  it  is  hard  for  thee,  strong  as  thou  art,  to  quench 
the  might  of  every  man  that  cometh  against  thee  in  battle. 
Yea,  thou  too  art  a  mortal.  And  if  ever  I  should  cast  at  thee 
and  strike  thee  in  the  midst  with  the  sharp  bronze,  quickly 
shouldst  thou  for  all  thy  valour  and  trust  in  thy  hands  give 
glory  to  me,  and  thy  soul  to  Hades  of  the  famous  steeds." 

So  spake  he,  but  him  did  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios 
rebuke:  "Meriones,  why  speakest  thou  thus,  thou  that  art 
a  man  of  valour?  O  my  friend,  not  for  railing  words  will 
the  Trojans  draw  back  from  the  dead,  the  earth  must  hold 
some  fast  ere  that  may  be.  For  in  the  hands  of  men  is  the 
end  of  war,  but  of  words  the  end  is  in  council,  wherefore  in 
no  wise  should  we  multiply  words,  but  do  battle." 

So  speaking,  he  began,  and  the  other  followed  him,  a  god- 
like man.  And  as  the  din  ariseth  of  woodcutters  in  the  glades 
of  a  mountain,  and  the  sound  thereof  is  heard  far  away,  so 


298  HOMER 

rose  the  din  of  them  from  the  wide-wayed  earth,  the  noise  of 
bronze  and  of  well-tanned  bulls'  hides  smitten  with  swords 
and  double-pointed  spears.  And  now  not  even  a  clear-sighted 
man  could  any  longer  have  known  noble  Sarpedon,  for  with 
darts  and  blood  and  dust  was  he  covered  wholly  from  head 
to  foot.  And  ever  men  thronged  about  the  dead,  as  in  a  stead- 
ing flies  buzz  around  the  full  milk-pails,  in  the  season  of  spring, 
when  the  milk  drenches  the  bowls,  even  so  thronged  they  about 
the  dead.  Nor  ever  did  Zeus  turn  from  the  strong  fight  his 
shining  eyes,  but  ever  looked  down  on  them,  and  much  in  his 
heart  he  debated  of  the  slaying  of  Patroklos,  whether  there 
and  then  above  divine  Sarpedon  glorious  Hector  should  slay 
him  likewise  in  strong  battle  with  the  sword,  and  strip  his 
harness  from  his  shoulders,  or  whether  to  more  men  yet  he 
should  deal  sheer  labour  of  war.  And  thus  to  him  as  he 
pondered  it  seemed  the  better  way,  that  the  gallant  squire  of 
Achilles,  Peleus'  son,  should  straightway  drive  the  Trojans  and 
Hector  of  the  helm  of  bronze  towards  the  city,  and  should 
rob  many  of  their  life.  And  in  Hector  first  he  put  a  weakling 
heart,  and  leaping  into  his  car  Hector  turned  in  flight,  and 
cried  on  the  rest  of  the  Trojans  to  flee,  for  he  knew  the  turn- 
ing of  the  sacred  scales  of  Zeus.  Thereon  neither  did  the 
strong  Lykians  abide,  but  fled  all  in  fear,  when  they  beheld 
their  king  stricken  to  the  heart,  lying  in  the  company  of  the 
dead,  for  many  had  fallen  above  him,  when  Kronion  made 
fierce  the  fight.  Then  the  others  stripped  from  the  shoulders 
•  of  Sarpedon  his  shining  arms  of  bronze,  and  theae  the  strong 
son  of  Menoitios  gave  to  his  comrades  to  bear  to  the  hollow 
ships.  Then  Zeus  that  gathereth  the  clouds  spake  to  Apollo: 
"Prithee,  dear  Phoebus,  go  take  Sarpedon  out  of  range  of 
darts,  and  cleanse  the  black  blood  from  him,  and  thereafter 
bear  him  far  away,  and  bathe  him  in  the  streams  of  the  river, 
and  anoint  him  with  ambrosia,  and  clothe  him  in  garments 
that  wax  not  old,  and  send  him  to  be  wafted  by  fleet  convoy, 
by  the  twin  brethren  Sleep  and  Death,  that  quickly  will  set 
him  in  the  rich  land  of  wide  Lykia.  There  will  his  kinsmen  and 
clansmen  give  him  burial,  with  barrow  and  pillar,  for  such  is 
the  due  of  the  dead." 

So  spake  he,  nor  was  Apollo  disobedient  to  his  father.    He 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  299 

went  down  the  hills  of  Ida  to  the  dread  battle-din,  and  straight- 
way bore  goodly  Sarpedon  out  of  the  darts,  and  carried  him 
far  away,  and  bathed  him  in  the  streams  of  the  river,  and. 
anointed  him  with  ambrosia,  and  clad  him  in  garments  that 
wax  not  old,  and  sent  him  to  be  wafted  by  fleet  convoy,  the 
twin  brethren  Sleep  and  Death,  that  swiftly  set  him  down  in 
the  rich  land  of  wide  Lykia.  But  Patroklos  cried  to  his  horses 
and  Automedon,  and  after  the  Trojans  and  Lykians  went  he, 
and  so  was  blindly  forgetful,  in  his  witlessness,  for  if  he  had 
kept  the  saying  of  the  son  of  Peleus,  verily  he  should  have 
escaped  the  evil  fate  of  black  death.  But  ever  is  the  wit  of 
Zeus  stronger  than  the  wit  of  men,  for  he  driveth  the  valiant 
man  in  flight,  and  easily  taketh  away  the  victory,  and  then 
again  himself  rouseth  men  to  fight,  so  now  he  roused  the 
spirit  of  Patroklos  in  his  breast.  There  whom  first,  whom  last 
didst  thou  slay,  Patroklos,  when  the  ^ods  called  thee  death- 
ward?  Adrestos  first,  and  Autonoos,  and  Echeklos,  and 
Perimos,  son  of  Megas,  and  Epistor,  and  Melanippos,  and 
thereafter  Elasos,  and  Moulios,  and  Pylartes:  these  he  slew, 
but  the  others  were  each  man  of  them  fain  of  flight.  Then 
would  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  have  taken  high-gated  Troy, 
by  the  hands  of  Patroklos,  for  around  and  before  him  he  raged 
with  the  spear,  but  that  Phoebus  Apollo  stood  on  the  well- 
builded  wall,  with  baneful  thoughts  towards  Patroklos,  and 
succouring  the  Trojans.  Thrice  clomb  Patroklos  on  the  cor- 
ner of  the  lofty  wall,  and  thrice  did  Apollo  force  him  back 
and  smote  the  shining  shield  with  his  immortal  hands.  But 
when  for  the  fourth  time  he  came  on  like  a  god,  then  cried 
far-darting  Apollo  terribly,  and  spake  winged  words:  "Give 
back,  Patroklos  of  the  seed  of  Zeus!  Not  beneath  thy  spear 
is  it  fated  that  the  city  of  the  valiant  Trojans  shall  fall,  nay 
nor  beneath  Achilles,  a  man  far  better  than  thou." 

So  spake  he,  and  Patroklos  retreated  far  back,  avoiding 
the  wrath  of  far-darting  Apollo,  but  Hector  within  the  Skaian 
gates  was  restraining  his  whole-hooved  horses,  pondering 
whether  he  should  drive  again  into  the  din  and  fight,  or  should 
call  unto  the  host  to  gather  to  the  wall.  While  thus  he  was 
thinking,  Phoebus  Apollo  stood  by  him  in  the  guise  of  a  young 
man  and  a  strong,  Asios,  who  was  the  mother's  brother  of 


300  HOMER 

horse-taming  Hector,  being  own  brother  of  Htkabe,  and  son 
of  Dymas,  who  dwelt  in  Phrygia,  on  the  streams  of  Sangarios. 
In  his  guise  spake  Apollo,  son  of  Zeus,  to  Hector:  "Hector, 
wherefore  dost  thou  cease  from  fight?  It  doth  not  behove 
thee.  Would  that  I  were  as  much  stronger  than  thou  as  I  am 
weaker,  thereon  quickly  shouldst  thou  stand  aloof  from  war 
to  thy  hurt.  But  come,  turn  against  Patroklos  thy  strong- 
hooved  horses,  if  perchance  thou  mayst  slay  him,  and  Apoll(? 
give  thee  glory." 

So  spake  the  god,  and  went  back  again  into  the  moil  of 
men.  But  renowned  Hector  bade  wise-hearted  Kebriones  to 
lash  his  horses  into  the  war.  Then  Apollo  went  and  passed  into 
the  press,  and  sent  a  dread  panic  among  the  Argives,  but  to 
the  Trojans  and  Hector  gave  he  renown.  And  Hector  let  the 
other  Argives  be,  and  slew  none  of  them,  but  against  Patrok- 
los he  turned  his  strong-hooved  horses,  and  Patroklos  on  the 
other  side  leaped  from  his  chariot  to  the  ground,  with  a  spear 
in  his  left  hand,  and  in  his  other  hand  grasped  a  shining  jagged 
stone,  that  his  hand  covered.  Firmly  he  planted  himself  and 
hurled  it,  nor  long  did  he  shrink  from  his  foe,  nor  was  his 
cast  in  vain,  but  he  struck  Kebriones  the  charioteer  of  Hector, 
the  bastard  son  of  renowned  Priam,  on  the  brow  with  the 
sharp  stone,  as  he  held  the  reins  of  the  horses.  Both  his  brows 
the  stone  drave  together,  and  his  bone  held  not,  but  his  eyes 
fell  to  the  ground  in  the  dust,  there,  in  front  of  his  feet.  Then 
he,  like  a  diver,  fell  from  the  well-wrought  car,  and  his  spirit 
left  his  bones.  Then  taunting  him  didst  thou  address  him, 
knightly  Patroklos:  "Out  on  it,  how  nimble  a  man,  how 
lightly  he  diveth!  Yea,  if  perchance  he  were  on  the  teeming 
deep,  this  man  would  satisfy  many  by  seeking  for  oysters, 
leaping  from  the  ship,  even  if  it  were  stormy  weather,  so 
lightly  now  he  diveth  from  the  chariot  into  the  plain.  Verily 
among  the  Trojans  too  there  be  diving  men." 

So  speaking  he  set  on  the  hero  Kebriones  with  the  rush  of 
a  lion,  that  while  wasting  the  cattle-pens  is  smitten  in  the 
breast,  and  his  own  valour  is  his  bane,  even  so  against 
Kebriones,  Patroklos,  didst  thou  leap  furiously.  But  Hector, 
on  the  other  side,  leaped  from  his  chariot  to  the  ground.  And 
these  twain  strove  for  Kebriones  like  lions,  that  on  the  moun- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVI  301 

tain  peaks  fight,  both  hungering,  both  high  of  heart,  for  a 
slain  hind.  Even  so  for  Kebriones'  sake  these  two  masters  of 
the  war-cry,  Patroklos  son  of  Menoitios,  and  renowned  Hector, 
were  eager  each  to  hew  the  other's  flesh  with  the  ruthless 
bronze. 

Hector  then  seized  him  by  the  head,  and  slackened  not 
hold,  while  Patroklos  on  the  other  side  grasped  him  by  the 
foot,  and  thereon  the  others,  Trojans  and  Danaans,  joined 
strong  battle.  And  as  the  East  wind  and  the  South  contend 
with  one  another  in  shaking  a  deep  wood  in  the  dells  of  a 
mountain,  shaking  beech,  and  ash,  and  smooth-barked  cornel 
tree,  that  clash  against  each  other  their  long  boughs  with  mar- 
vellous din,  and  a  noise  of  branches  broken,  so  the  Trojans 
and  Achaians  were  leaping  on  each  other  and  slaying,  nor  had 
either  side  any  thought  of  ruinous  flight.  And  many  sharp 
darts  were  fixed  around  Kebriones,  and  winged  arrows  leap- 
ing from  the  bow-string,  and  many  mighty  stones  smote  the 
shields  of  them  that  fought  around  him.  But  he  in  the  whirl  of 
dust  lay  mighty  and  mightily  fallen,  forgetful  of  his  chivalry. 

Now  while  the  sun  was  going  about  mid-heaven,  so  long 
the  darts  smote  either  side,  and  the  host  fell,  but  when  the  sun 
turned  to  the  time  of  the  loosing  of  oxen,  lo,  then  beyond  their 
doom  the  Achaians  proved  the  better.  The  hero  Kebriones 
drew  they  forth  from  the  darts,  out  of  the  tumult  of  the  Tro- 
jans, and  stripped  the  harness  from  his  shoulders,  and  with 
ill  design  against  the  Trojans,  Patroklos  rushed  upon  them. 
Three  times  then  rushed,  he  on,  peer  of  swift  Ares,  shouting 
terribly,  and  thrice  he  slev/  nine  men.  But  when  the  fourth 
time  he  sped  on  like  a  god,  thereon  to  thee,  Patroklos,  did 
the  end  of  life  appear,  for  Phoebus  met  thee  in  the  strong 
battle,  in  dreadful  wise.  And  Patroklos  was  not  ware  of  him 
coming  through  the  press,  for  hidden  in  thick  mist  did  he  meet 
him,  and  stood  behind  him,  and  smote  his  back  and  broad 
shoulders  with  a  down-stroke  of  his  hand,  and  his  eyes  were 
dazed.  And  from  his  head  Phoebus  Apollo  smote  the  helmet 
that  rolled  rattling  away  with  a  din  beneath  the  hooves  of  the 
horses,  the  helm  with  upright  socket,  and  the  crests  were 
defiled  with  blood  and  dust.  Not  of  old  was  it  sufifered  that 
the  helm  with  horse-hair  crest  should  be  defiled  with  dust, 


302  HOMER 

nay,  but  it  kept  the  head  and  beautiful  face  of  a  man  divine, 
even  of  Achilles.  But  as  then  Zeus  gave  it  to  Hector,  to  bear 
on  his  head,  yet  was  destruction  near  him.  And  all  the  long- 
shadowed  spear  was  shattered  in  the  hands  of  Patroklos,  the 
spear  great  and  heavy  and  strong,  and  sharp,  while  from  his 
shoulders  the  tasselled  shield  with  the  baldric  fell  to  the 
ground. 

''  And  the  prince  Apollo,  son  of  Zeus,  loosed  his  corslet,  and 
blindness  seized  his  heart  and  his  shining  limbs  were  unstrung, 
and  he  stood  in  amaze,  and  at  close  quarters  from  behind  a 
Dardanian  smote  him  on  the  back,  between  the  shoulders,  with 
a  sharp  spear,  even  Euphorbos,  son  of  Panthoos,  who  excelled 
them  of  his  age  in  casting  the  spear,  and  in  horsemanship,  and 
in  speed  of  foot.  Even  thus,  verily,  had  he  cast  down  twenty 
men  from  their  chariots,  though  then  first  had  he  come  with 
his  car  to  learn  the  lesson  of  war.  He  it  was  that  first  smote  a 
dart  into  thee,  knightly  Patroklos,  nor  overcame  thee,  but  ran 
back  again  and  mingled  with  the  throng,  first  drawing  forth 
from  the  flesh  his  ashen  spear,  nor  did  he  abide  the  onset  of 
Patroklos,  unarmed  as  he  was,  in  the  strife.  But  Patroklos, 
being  overcome  by  the  stroke  of  the  god,  and  by  the  spear, 
gave  ground,  and  retreated  to  the  host  of  his  comrades,  avoid- 
ing Fate.  But  Hector,  when  he  beheld  great-hearted  Patroklos 
give  ground,  being  smitten  with  the  keen  bronze,  came  nigh 
unto  him  through  the  ranks,  and  wounded  him  with  a  spear,  in 
the  lowermost  part  of  the  belly,  and  drave  the  bronze  clean 
through.  And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  sorely  grieved  the  host 
of  Achaians.  And  as  when  a  lion  hath  overcome  in  battle  an 
untiring  boar,  they  twain  fighting  with  high  heart  on  the  crests 
of  a  hill,  about  a  little  well,  and  both  are  desirous  to  drink,  and 
the  lion  hath  by  force  overcome  the  boar  that  draweth  difficult 
breath;  so  after  that  he  had  slain  many  did  Hector  son  of 
Priam  take  the  life  away  from  the  strong  son  of  Menoitios, 
smiting  him  at  close  quarters  with  the  spear;  and  boasting 
over  him  he  spake  winged  words:  "Patroklos,  surely  thou 
saidst  that  thou  wouldst  sack  my  town,  and  from  Trojan 
women  take  away  the  day  of  freedom,  and  bring  them  in  ships 
to  thine  own  dear  country :  fool !  nay,  in  front  of  these  were 
the  swift  horses  of  Hector  straining  their  speed  for  the  fight; 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XVI  303 

and  myself  in  wielding  the  spear  excel  among  the  war-loving 
Trojans,  even  I  who  ward  from  them  the  day  of  destiny :  but 
thee  shall  vultures  here  devour.  Ah,  wretch,  surely  Achilles 
for  all  his  valour,  availed  thee  not,  who  straitly  charged  thee 
as  thou  camest,  he  abiding  there,  saying,  'Come  not  to  me, 
Patroklos  lord  of  steeds,  to  the  hollow  ships,  till  thou  hast  torn 
the  gory  doublet  of  man-slaying  Hector  about  his  breast ;'  so, 
surely,  he  spake  to  thee,  and  persuaded  the  wits  of  thee  in  thy 
witlessness." 

Then  faintly  didst  thou  answer  him,  knightly  Patroklos : 
"Boast  greatly,  as  now,  Hector,  for  to  thee  have  Zeus,  son 
of  Kronos,  and  Apollo  given  the  victory,  who  lightly  have 
subdued  me;  for  themselves  stripped  my  harness  from  my 
shoulders.  But  if  twenty  such  as  thou  had  encountered  me, 
here  had  they  all  perished,  subdued  beneath  my  spear.  But 
me  have  ruinous  Fate  and  the  son  of  Leto  slain,  and  of  men 
Euphorbos,  but  thou  art  the  third  in  my  slaying.  But  another 
thing  will  I  tell  thee,  and  do  thou  lay  it  up  in  thy  heart ;  verily 
thou  thyself  art  not  long  to  live,  but  already  doth  Death  stand 
hard  by  thee,  and  strong  Fate,  that  thou  art  to  be  subdued  by 
the  hands  of  noble  Achilles,  of  the  seed  of  Aiakos." 

Even  as  so  he  spake  the  end  of  death  overshadowed  him. 
And  his  soul,  fleeting  from  his  limbs,  went  down  to  the  house 
of  Hades,  wailing  its  own  doom,  leaving  manhood  and  youth. 

Then  renowned  Hector  spake  to  him  even  in  his  death : 
"Patroklos,  wherefore  to  me  dost  thou  prophesy  sheer  destruc- 
tion? who  knows  but  that  Achilles,  the  child  of  fair-tressed 
Thetis,  will  first  be  smitten  by  my  spear,  and  lose  his  life?" 

So  spake  he,  and  drew  the  spear  of  bronze  from  the 
wound,  setting  his  foot  on  the  dead,  and  cast  him  off  on  his 
back  from  the  spear.  And  straightway  with  the  spear  he  went 
after  Automedon,  the  godlike  squire  of  the  swift-footed  Aiaki- 
des,  for  he  was  eager  to  smite  him;  but  his  swift-footed 
immortal  horses  bare  him  out  of  the  battle,  horses  that  the 
gods  gave  to  Peleus  a  splendid  gift. 


304  HOMER 

BOOK  XVII 

Of  the  battle  around  the  body  of  Patroklos. 

*  But  Atreus'  son,  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares,  was  not  unaware 
of  the  slaying  of  Patroklos  by  the  Trojans  in  the  fray.  He 
went  up  through  the  front  of  the  fight  harnessed  in  flashing 
bronze,  and  strode  over  the  body  as  above  a  first-born  calf 
standeth  lowing  its  mother,  ere  then  unused  to  motherhood. 
Thus  above  Patroklos  strode  fair-haired  Menelaos,  and  be- 
fore him  held  his  spear  and  the  circle  of  his  shield,  eager  to 
slay  whoever  should  encounter  him.  Then  was  Panthoos' 
son  of  the  stout  ashen  spear  not  heedless  of  noble  Patroklos 
as  he  lay,  and  he  stood  anigh  him  and  spake  to  Menelaos  dear 
to  Ares:  "Atreus'  son  Menelaos,  Zeus-fostered,  captain  of 
the  host,  give  back  and  leave  the  body  and  yield  the  bloody 
spoils ;  for  before  me  was  there  none  of  the  Trojans  and  their 
famed  allies  who  smote  Patroklos  with  the  spear  in  the  stress 
of  fight ;  wherefore  yield  me  this  fair  glory  to  win  among  the 
Trojans,  lest  I  hurl  and  smite  thee,  and  bereave  thee  of  sweet 
life." 

Then  sorely  wroth  spake  unto  him  fair-haired  Menelaos: 
"O  father  Zeus,  no  seemly  thing  is  it  to  boast  above  measure. 
Verily  neither  is  spirit  of  pard  or  of  lion  or  of  cruel  wild  boar, 
in  the  strength  of  whose  breast  rageth  fury  fiercest  of  all,  so 
high  as  those  proud  spirits  of  Panthoos'  sons  of  the  good  ashen 
spear.  Yet  had  the  mighty  Hyperenor,  tamer  of  horses,  no 
profit  of  his  youth  when  he  reviled  me  and  abode  my  onset 
and  deemed  that  I  was  the  meanest  warrior  among  the  Da- 
naans ;  not  on  his  own  feet,  I  ween,  did  he  fare  home  to  glad- 
den his  dear  wife  and  his  good  parents.  Thus,  methinketh, 
will  I  quench  thy  spirit  also,  if  thou  stand  up  against  me; 
rather  I  bid  thee  get  thee  back  into  the  throng  nor  stand  to 
encounter  me,  or  ever  some  ill  thing  befall  thee;  by  the  event 
is  even  a  fool  made  wise." 

Thus  he  said,  but  persuaded  not  the  other,  but  he  spake 
to  him  in  answer:       "Now   therefore,    Zeus-fostered    Mene- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVII  305 

laos,  thou  shalt  in  very  deed  pay  for  my  brother  whom  thou 
slewest  and  boasted  over,  and  therewithal  didst  leave  his  wife 
a  widow  in  her  new  bridal-chamber  afar,  and  to  his  parents 
broughtest  lamentation  unspeakable  and  woe.  Verily  to 
those  hapless  twain  shall  I  be  for  a  withstaying  of  their  lamen- 
tation, if  I  shall  carry  back  thy  head  and  armour  and  lay  them 
in  the  hands  of  Panthoos  and  noble  Phrontis.  But  now  no 
longer  shall  the  struggle  be  untried  or  unfought,  whether  for 
victory  or  for  rout." 

Thus  saying  he  smote  on  the  circle  of  the  shield  of  Mene- 
laos,  but  the  bronze  spear  brake  it  not,  but  the  point  was  bent) 
back  in  the  stubborn  shield.  And  Menelaos  Atreus'  son  in  his 
turn  made  at  him  with  his  bronze  spear,  having  prayed  unto 
father  Zeus,  and  as  he  gave  back  pierced  the  nether  part  of  his 
throat,  and  threw  his  weight  into  the  stroke,  following  his 
heavy  hand ;  and  sheer  through  the  tender  neck  went  the  point 
of  the  spear.  And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  his  armour  rang 
upon  him.  In  blood  was  his  hair  drenched  that  was  like  unto 
the  hair  of  the  Graces,  and  his  tresses  closely  knit  with  bands 
of  silver  and  gold.  As  when  a  man  reareth  some  lusty  sapling 
of  an  olive  in  a  clear  space  where  water  springeth  plenteously, 
a  goodly  shoot  fair-growing;  and  blasts  of  all  winds  shake  it, 
yet  it  bursteth  into  white  blossom;  then  suddenly  cometh  the 
wind  of  a  great  hurricane  and  wresteth  it  out  of  its  abiding 
place  and  stretcheth  it  out  upon  the  earth:  even  so  lay  Pan- 
thoos' son  Euphorbos  of  the  good  ashen  spear  when  Menelaos 
Atreus'  son  had  slain  him,  and  despoiled  him  of  his  arms. 

Now  as  when  some  mountain-bred  lion,  trusting  in  his 
might,  hath  seized  the  best  heifer  out  of  a  feeding  herd,  and 
first  taketh  her  neck  in  his  strong  teeth  and  breaketh  it,  and 
then  devoureth  fiercely  the  blood  and  all  the  inward  parts, 
while  around  him  hounds  and  herdsmen  clamour  loudly  afar 
off  yet  will  not  come  up  against  him,  for  pale  fear  taketh  hold 
on  them, — even  so  dared  not  the  heart  in  the  breast  of  any 
Trojan  to  come  up  against  glorious  Menelaos.  Then  easily 
would  the  son  of  Atreus  have  borne  off  the  noble  spoils  of  Pan- 
thoos' son,  had  not  Phoebus  Apollo  grudged  it  him,  and 
aroused  against  him  Hector  peer  of  swift  Ares,  putting  on  the 
semblance  of  a  man,  of  Mentes  chief  of  the  Kikones.     And 


306  HOMER 

he  spake  aloud  to  him  winged  words :  "Hector,  now  art  thou 
hasting  after  things  unattainable,  even  the  horses  of  wise 
Aiakides ;  for  hard  are  they  to  be  tamed  or  driven  by  mortal 
man,  save  only  Achilles  whom  an  immortal  mother  bare. 
Meanwhile  hath  warlike  Menelaos  Atreus'  son  stridden  over 
Patroklos  and  slain  the  best  of  the  Trojans  there,  even  Pan- 
thoos'  son  Euphorbos,  and  hath  stayed  him  in  his  impetuous 
might." 

Thus  saying  the  god  went  back  into  the  strife  of  men,  but 
dire  grief  darkened  Hector's  inmost  soul,  and  then  he  gazed 
searchingly  along  the  lines,  and  straightway  was  aware  of  the 
one  man  stripping  off  the  noble  arms,  and  the  other  lying  on 
the  earth;  and  blood  was  flowing  about  the  gaping  wound. 
Then  he  went  through  the  front  of  the  fight  harnessed  in  flash- 
ing bronze,  crying  a  shrill  cry,  like  unto  Hephaistos'  flame  un- 
quenchable. Not  deaf  to  his  shrill  cry  was  Atreus'  son,  and 
sore  troubled  he  spake  to  his  great  heart :  "Ay  me,  if  I  shall 
leave  behind  me  these  goodly  arms,  and  Patroklos  who  here 
lieth  for  my  vengeance'  sake,  I  fear  lest  some  Danaan  behold- 
ing it  be  wroth  against  me.  But  if  for  honour's  sake  I  do 
battle  alone  with  Hector  and  the  Trojans,  I  fear  lest  they  come 
about  me  many  against  one;  for  all  the  Trojans  is  bright- 
helmed  Hector  leading  hither.  But  wherefore  thus  debateth 
my  heart?  When  a  man  against  the  power  of  heaven  is  fain 
to  fight  with  another  whom  God  exalteth,  then  swiftly  rolleth 
on  him  mighty  woe.  Therefore  shall  none  of  the  Danaans  be 
wroth  with  me  though  he  behold  me  giving  place  to  Hector, 
since  he  warreth  with  gods  upon  his  side.  But  if  I  might 
somewhere  find  Aias  of  the  loud  war-cry,  then  both  together 
would  we  go  and  be  mindful  of  battle  even  were  it  against  the 
power  of  heaven,  if  haply  we  might  save  his  dead  for  Achilles 
Peleus'  son :  that  were  best  among  these  ills." 

While  thus  he  communed  with  his  mind  and  heart,  there- 
withal the  Trojan  ranks  came  onward,  and  Hector  at  their 
head.  Then  Menelaos  gave  backward,  and  left  the  dead  man, 
turning  himself  ever  about  like  a  deep-maned  lion  which  men 
and  dogs  chase  from  a  fold  with  spears  and  cries;  and  his 
strong  heart  within  him  groweth  chill,  and  loth  goeth  he  from 
the  steading;  so  from  Patroklos  went  fair-haired  Menelaos, 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XVII  307 

and  turned  and  stood,  when  he  came  to  the  host  of  his  com- 
rades, searching  for  mighty  Aias  Telamon's  son.  Him  very 
speedily  he  espied  on  the  left  of  the  whole  battle,  cheering  his 
comrades  and  rousing  them  to  fight,  for  great  terror  had  Phoe- 
bus Apollo  sent  on  them;  and  he  hasted  him  to  run,  and 
straightway  stood  by  him  and  said :  "  This  way,  beloved  Aias  ; 
let  us  bestir  us  for  the  dead  Patroklos,  if  haply  his  naked 
corpse  at  least  we  may  carry  to  Achilles,  though  his  armour  is 
held  by  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  aroused  the  heart  of  wise  Aias.  And 
he  went  up  through  the  front  of  the  fight,  and  with  him  fair- 
haired  Menelaos.  Now  Hector,  when  he  had  stripped  from 
Patroklos  his  noble  armour,  was  dragging  him  thence  that  he 
might  cut  off  the  head  from  the  shoulders  with  the  keen  bronze 
and  carry  his  body  to  give  to  the  dogs  of  Troy.  But  Aias 
came  anigh,  and  the  shield  that  he  bare  was  as  a  tower ;  then 
Hector  gave  back  into  the  company  of  his  comrades,  and 
sprang  into  his  chariot ;  and  the  goodly  armour  he  gave  to  the 
Trojans  to  carry  to  the  city,  to  be  great  glory  unto  him.  But 
Aias  spread  his  broad  shield  over  the  son  of  Menoitios  and 
stood  as  it  were  a  lion  before  his  whelps  when  huntsmen  in 
a  forest  encounter  him  as  he  leadeth  his  young — then  waxeth 
he  in  his  strength,  and  draweth  down  all  his  brows  to  cover  his 
eyes : — so  over  the  hero  Patroklos  Aias  strode.  And  by  his 
side  stood  Atreus'  son,  Menelaos  dear  to  Ares,  nursing  great 
sorrow  in  his  breast. 

Then  Glaukos,  Hippolochos'  son,  chief  of  the  men  of  Lyk- 
ia,  looked  toward  Hector  with  a  frown  and  chode  him  with 
rough  words:  "Hector,  in  semblance  bravest,  lo,  in  battle 
sorely  art  thou  lacking.  Verily  in  vain  doth  fair  glory  rest  on 
thee  since  thou  turnest  runagate.  Bethink  thee  now  how  thou 
shalt  save  thy  city  and  home,  thou  only  with  the  host  who  were 
born  in  Ilios;  for  of  the  Lykians  at  least  shall  none  go  up  to 
fight  against  the  Danaans  for  the  city's  sake,  since  no  boon,  it 
seemeth,  is  it  to  fight  unsparingly  ever  against  men  of  war. 
How  art  thou  like  to  bring  back  safe  into  thy  host  any  lesser 
man,  thou  hard  of  heart,  when  Sarpedon  that  was  both  guest 
and  friend  thou  leftest  to  the  Argives  to  be  their  prey  and  spoil, 
though  in  his  life  he  aided  oftentimes  both  thy  city  and  thy- 


308  HOMER 

self?  Yet  now  thou  hast  not  dared  to  save  him  from  the  dogs. 
Therefore  now  if  any  of  the  men  of  Lykia  will  hearken  unto 
me  we  will  go  home,  and  to  Troy  shall  be  revealed  sheer  doom. 
For  if  now  a  spirit  of  good  courage  were  in  the  Trojans,  a  fear- 
less spirit  such  as  entereth  into  men  who  for  their  native  land 
4  array  toil  and  strife  against  men  that  are  their  enemies,  speed- 
ily should  we  drag  Patroklos  within  Ilios'  wall.  And  if  this 
dead  man  were  brought  into  the  great  city  of  king  Priam,  and 
we  drew  him  forth  from  the  battle,  then  speedily  would  the 
Argives  give  back  the  goodly  armour  of  Sarpedon,  and  we 
should  bring  his  body  into  Ilios ;  so  great  is  he  whose  squire  is 
slain,  even  the  man  who  is  far  best  of  the  Argives  beside  the 
ships — ^he  and  his  close- fighting  squires.  But  thou  enduredst 
not  to  stand  up  against  great-hearted  Aias  and  to  look  in  his 
face  amid  the  cry  of  the  men  of  war,  nor  to  do  fair  battle  with 
him,  since  he  is  a  better  man  than  thou." 

Then,  with  a  frown,  spake  unto  him  Hector  of  the  glancing 
helm :  "Glaukos,  wherefore  hath  such  an  one  as  thou  spoken 
thus  over  measure?  Out  on  it,  I  verily  thought  that  thou  in 
wisdom  wert  above  all  others  that  dwell  in  deep-soiled  Lykia ; 
but  now  think  I  altogether  scorn  of  thy  wisdom,  since  thou 
speakest  thus,  and  sayest  that  I  dared  not  to  meet  the  mighty 
Aias.  No  terror  have  I  of  battle  or  din  of  chariots,  but  the 
intent  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus  is  ever  strongest,  and  even  a  brave 
man  he  overaweth  and  lightly  snatcheth  from  him  victory,  and 
yet  anon  himself  arouseth  him  to  fight.  Come  hither,  friend, 
stand  beside  me  and  see  my  handiwork,  whether  all  this  day  I 
shall  play  the  coward,  according  to  thy  words,  or  shall  yet  stay 
certain  of  the  Danaans,  how  fierce  soever  be  their  valour,  from 
doing  battle  for  Patroklos'  corpse." 

Thus  saying  he  called  on  the  Trojans  with  a  mighty  shout : 
"Trojans  and  Lykians  and  Dardanians  that  fight  hand  to  hand, 
be  men,  my  friends,  and  bethink  you  of  impetuous  valour,  un- 
til I  do  on  me  the  goodly  arms  of  noble  Achilles  that  I 
stripped  from  brave  Patroklos  when  I  slew  him." 

Thus  having  spoken  went  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm 
forth  out  of  the  strife  of  war,  and  ran  and  speedily  with  fleet 
feet  following  overtook  his  comrades,  not  yet  far  off,  who 
were  bearing  to  the  city  Peleides'  glorious  arms.     And  stand- 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XVII  309 

ing  apart  from  the  dolorous  battle  he  changed  his  armour ;  his 
own  he  gave  the  warlike  Trojans  to  carry  to  sacred  Ilios,  and 
he  put  on  the  divine  arms  of  Achilles,  Peleus'  son,  which  to  his 
dear  father  the  gods  who  inhabit  heaven  gave,  and  Peleus  com- 
mitted them  unto  his  child  when  old  himself;  but  never  in  his 
father's  armour  did  that  son  grow  old. 

But  when  Zeus  that  gathereth  the  clouds  beheld  from  afar 
off  Hector  arming  him  in  the  armour  of  Peleus'  godlike  son, 
he  shook  his  head  and  spake  thus  unto  his  soul :  "Ah,  hapless 
man,  no  thought  is  in  thy  heart  of  death  that  yet  draweth  nigh 
unto  thee ;  thou  doest  on  thee  the  divine  armour  of  a  peerless 
man  before  whom  the  rest  have  terror.  His  comrade,  gentle 
and  brave,  thou  hast  slain,  and  unmeetly  hast  stripped  the  ar- 
mour from  his  head  and  shoulders ;  yet  now  for  a  while  at  least 
I  will  give  into  thy  hands  great  might,  in  recompense  for  this, 
even  that  no  wise  shalt  thou  come  home  out  of  the  battle,  for 
Andromache  to  receive  from  thee  Peleides'  glorious  arms." 

Thus  spake  the  son  of  Kronos  and  bowed  his  dark  brows 
therewithal. 

But  the  armour  fitted  itself  unto  Hector's  body,  and  Ares 
the  dread  war-god  entered  into  him,  and  his  limbs  were  filled 
within  with  valour  and  strength.  Then  he  sped  among  the 
noble  allies  with  a  mighty  cry,  and  in  the  flashing  of  his 
armour  he  seemed  to  all  of  them  like  unto  Peleus'  great-hearted 
son.  And  he  came  to  each  and  encouraged  him  with  his  words 
— Mesthles  and  Glaukos  and  Medon  and  Thersilochos  and  As- 
teropaios  and  Deisenor  and  Hippothoos  and  Phorkys  and 
Chromios  and  the  augur  Ennomos — these  encouraged  he  and 
spake  to  them  winged  words :  "Listen,  ye  countless  tribes  of 
allies  that  dwell  round  about.  It  was  not  for  mere  numbers 
that  I  sought  or  longed  when  I  gathered  each  of  you  from  your 
cities,  but  that  ye  might  zealously  guard  the  Trojans'  wives  and 
infant  little  ones  from  the  war-loving  Achaians.  For  this 
end  am  J  wearying  my  people  by  taking  gifts  and  food  from 
them,  and  nursing  thereby  the  courage  of  each  of  you.  Now 
therefore  let  all  turn  straight  against  the  foe  and  live  or  die, 
for  such  is  the  dalliance  of  war.  And  whoso  shall  drag  Pa- 
troklos,  dead  though  he  be,  among  the  horse-taming  men  of 


310  HOMER 

Troy,  and  make  Aias  yield,  to  him  will  I  award  half  the  spoils 
and  keep  half  myself;  so  shall  his  glory  be  great  as  mine." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  against  the  Danaans  charged  with 
all  their  weight,  levelling  their  spears,  and  their  hearts  were 
high  of  hope  to  drag  the  corpse  from  under  Aias,  Telamon's 
son.  Fond  men !  from  full  many  reft  he  life  over  that  corpse. 
And  then  spake  Aias  to  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry :  "Dear 
Menelaos,  fosterling  of  Zeus,  no  longer  count  I  that  we  two  of 
ourselves  shall  return  home  out  of  the  war.  Nor  have  I  so 
much  dread  for  the  corpse  of  Patroklos,  that  shall  soon  glut  the 
dogs  and  birds  of  the  men  of  Troy,  as  for  thy  head  and  mine 
lest  some  evil  fall  thereon,  for  all  is  shrouded  by  a  storm-cloud 
of  war,  even  by  Hector,  and  sheer  doom  stareth  in  our  face. 
But  come,  call  thou  to  the  best  men  of  the  Danaans,  if  haply  any 
hear." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  disre- 
garded him  not,  but  shouted  unto  the  Danaans,  crying  a  far- 
heard  cry :  "O  friends,  ye  leaders  and  counsellors  of  the  Ar- 
gives,  who  by  the  side  of  the  sons  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  and 
Menelaos,  drink  at  the  common  cost  and  are  all  commanders 
of  the  host,  on  whom  wait  glory  and  honour  from  Zeus,  hard 
is  it  for  me  to  distinguish  each  chief  amid  the  press — such 
blaze  is  there  of  the  strife  of  war.  But  let  each  go  forward  of 
himself  and  be  wroth  at  heart  that  Patroklos  should  become  a 
sport  among  the  dogs  of  Troy." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  O'ileus'  son  fleet  Aias  heard  him  clear- 
ly, and  was  first  to  run  along  the  mellay  to  meet  him,  and  after 
him  Idomeneus,  and  Idomeneus'  brother-in-arms,  Meriones, 
peer  of  the  man-slaying  war-god.  And  who  shall  of  his  own 
thought  tell  the  names  of  the  rest,  even  of  all  that  after  these 
aroused  the  battle  of  the  Achaians? 

Now  the  Trojans  charged  forward  in  close  array,  and  Hec- 
tor led  them.  And  as  when  at  the  mouth  of  some  heaven-born 
river  a  mighty  wave  roareth  against  the  stream,  and  arouseth 
the  hight  cliffs'  echo  as  the  salt  sea  belloweth  on  the  beach,  so 
loud  was  the  cry  wherewith  the  Trojans  came.  But  the  Acha- 
ians stood  firm  around  Menoitios'  son  with  one  soul  all,  walled 
in  with  shields  of  bronze.  And  over  their  bright  helmets  the 
son  of  Kronos  shed  thick  darkness,  for  in  the  former  time  was 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    XVII  311 

Menoitios'  son  not  unloved  of  him,  while  he  was  yet  alive  and 
squire  of  Aiakides.  So  was  Zeus  loth  that  he  should  become  a 
prey  of  the  dogs  of  his  enemies  at  Troy,  and  stirred  his  com- 
rades to  do  battle  for  him. 

Now  first  the  Trojans  thaist  back  the  glancing-eyed  Acha- 
ians,  who  shrank  before  them  and  left  the  dead,  yet  the  proud 
Trojans  slew  not  any  of  them  with  spears,  though  they  were 
fain,  but  set  to  hale  the  corpse.  But  little  while  w^ould  the 
Achaians  hold  back  therefrom,  for  very  swiftly  Aias  rallied 
them,  Aias  the  first  in  presence  and  in  deeds  of  all  the  Danaans 
after  the  noble  son  of  Peleus.  Right  through  the  fighters  in 
the  forefront  rushed  he  like  a  wild  boar  in  his  might  that  in 
the  mountains  wdien  he  turneth  at  bay  scattereth  lightly  dogs 
and  lusty  young  men  through  the  glades.  Thus  did  proud  Tel- 
amon's  son  the  glorious  Aias  press  on  the  Trojan  battalions 
and  lightly  scatter  them,  as  they  had  bestrode  Patroklos  and 
were  full  fain  to  drag  him  to  their  city  and  win  renown. 

Then  Hippothoos,  glorious  son  of  Pelasgian  Lethos,  set  to 
drag  him  by  the  foot  through  the  violent  fray,  binding  him  by 
the  ankle  with  a  strap  around  the  sinews,  to  do  pleasure  to 
Hector  and  the  Trojans.  But  an  ill  thing  came  swiftly  upon 
him  wherefrom  none  of  his  comrades,  albeit  full  fain,  might 
help  him.  For  the  son  of  Telamon  set  on  him  through  the  press 
and  smote  him  hard  at  hand  through  the  bronze-cheeked  helm. 
And  the  horse-hair-plumed  headpiece  brake  about  the  spear 
point,  smitten  by  the  great  spear  and  stalwart  arm,  and  brain 
and  blood  spouted  from  the  wound  through  the  vizor.  And 
Hippothoos'  strength  was  unstrung,  and  from  his  hands  he  let 
great-hearted  Patroklos'  foot  fall  to  earth,  and  close  thereon 
fell  he  prone  upon  the  corpse,  far  from  deep-soiled  Larissa,  nor 
repaid  his  dear  parents  for  his  nurture,  for  short  was  his  span 
of  life  as  he  fell  beneath  great-hearted  Aias'  spear.  And  Hec- 
tor in  his  turn  hurled  at  Aias  with  his  bright  spear,  but  the 
other  saw^  the  bronze  dart  as  it  came  and  hardly  avoided  it ;  yet 
Schedios,  son  of  great-hearted  Iphitos,  the  best  man  of  the 
Phokians  who  in  famous  Panopeus  had  his  dwelling  and  w^as 
king  over  many  men — this  man  Hector  smote  beneath  the 
midst  of  his  collar-bone,  and  right  through  went  the  point  of 
the  bronze  spear  and  stood  out  beside  the  nether  part  of  his 


312  HOlVfER 

shoulder.  And  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and  his  armour  rang  upon 
him.  And  Aias  in  his  turn  smote  Phorkys  in  the  midst  of  the 
belly,  the  wise  son  of  Phainops,  as  he  bestrode  Hippothoos,  and 
brake  the  plate  of  his  corslet,  and  the  bronze  let  forth  his 
bowels,  and  he  fell  in  the  dust  and  grasped  the  earth  with  his 
hand.  And  the  front  fighters  and  glorious  Hector  gave  back, 
and  the  Argives  shouted  aloud  and  haled  the  dead  men, 
Phorkys  and  Hippothoos,  and  did  off  the  armour  from  their 
shoulders. 

Then  would  the  Trojans  in  their  turn  in  their  weakness 
overcome  have  been  driven  back  into  Ilios  by  the  Achaians 
dear  to  Ares,  and  the  Argives  would  have  won  glory  even 
against  the  appointment  of  Zeus  by  their  power  and  might. 
But  Apollo  himself  aroused  Aineias,  putting  on  the  semblance 
of  Periphas  the  herald,  the  son  of  Epytos,  who  grew  old  with 
his  old  father  in  his  heraldship,  of  friendly  thought  toward 
Aineias.  In  his  similitude  spake  Apollo ,  son  of  Zeus : 
"Aineias,  how  could  ye  ever  guard  high  Ilios  if  it  were  against 
the  will  of  God  ?  Other  men  have  I  seen  that  trust  in  their  own 
might  and  power  and  valour,  and  in  their  host,  even  though 
they  have  scant  folk  to  lead.  But  here,  albeit  Zeus  is  fainer 
far  to  give  victory  to  us  than  to  the  Danaans,  yet  ye  are  dis- 
mayed exceedingly  and  fight  not." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Aineias  knew  far-darting  Apollo  when 
he  looked  upon  his  face,  and  spake  unto  Hector,  shouting  loud : 
"Hector  and  ye  other  leaders  of  the  Trojans  and  their  allies, 
shame  were  this  if  in  our  weakness  overcome  we  were  driven 
back  into  Ilios  by  the  Achaians  dear  to  Ares.  Nay,  thus  saith 
a  god,  who  standeth  by  my  side:  Zeus,  highest  Orderer,  Is 
our  helper  in  this  fight.  Therefore  let  us  go  right  onward 
against  the  Danaans.  Not  easily  at  least  let  them  take  the 
dead  Patroklos  to  the  ships." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  leapt  forth  far  before  the  fighters  in 
the  front.  And  the  Trojans  rallied  and  stood  up  against  the 
Achaians.  Then  Aineias  wounded  with  his  spear  Leokritos 
son  of  Arisbas,  Lykomedes'  valiant  comrade.  And  as  he  fell 
Lykomedes  dear  to  Ares  was  grieved  for  him  and  came  hard 
by  him  and  halted  and  hurled  his  bright  spear  and  smote  Hip- 
pasos'  son  Apisaon,  shepherd  of  the  host,  in  the  liver  beneath 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVII  313 

the  midriff  and  straightway  unstrung  his  knees,  Apisaon  who 
had  come  out  of  deep-soiled  Paionia  and  after  Asteropaios  was 
their  best  man  in  fight.  And  as  he  fell  warlike  Asteropaios 
was  grieved  for  him  and  made  onward  full  fain  to  do  battle 
against  the  Danaans ;  but  that  could  be  no  wise  any  more,  for 
they  were  fenced  on  every  side  with  shields  as  they  stood 
around  Patroklos,  and  held  their  spears  in  front  of  them. 
For  Aias  ranged  through  them  all  and  called  on  them  now  and 
again,  and  bade  that  none  of  the  Achaians  should  give  back 
behind  the  corpse  nor  fight  in  front  of  the  rest  but  keep  close 
beside  the  dead  and  do  battle  hand  to  hand.  Thus  mighty  Aias 
commanded,  and  the  earth  was  wet  with  dark  blood,  and  the 
dead  fell  thickly  both  of  the  Trojans  and  their  brave  allies,  and 
likewise  of  the  Danaans,  for  these  too  fought  no  bloodless 
fight,  3^et  far  fewer  perished  of  them,  for  they  were  ever  mind- 
ful to  ward  sheer  death  from  one  another  in  the  press. 

Thus  strove  they  as  it  had  been  fire,  nor  wouldst  thou  have 
thought  there  was  still  sun  or  moon,  for  over  all  the  battle 
where  the  chiefs  stood  around  the  slain  son  of  Menoitios  they 
were  shrouded  in  darkness,  while  the  other  Trojans  and  well- 
greaved  Achaians  fought  at  ease  in  the  clear  air,  and  piercing 
sunlight  was  spread  over  them,  and  on  all  the  earth  and  hills 
there  was  no  cloud  seen;  and  they  ceased  fighting  now  and 
again,  avoiding  each  other's  dolorous  darts  and  standing  far 
apart.  But  they  who  were  in  the  midst  endured  affliction  of 
the  darkness  and  the  battle,  and  all  the  best  men  of  them  were 
wearied  by  the  pitiless  weight  of  their  bronze  arms.  Yet  two 
men,  famous  warriors,  Thrasymedes  and  Antilochos,  knew  not 
yet  that  noble  Patroklos  was  dead,  but  deemed  that  he  was  yet 
alive  and  fighting  against  the  Trojans  in  the  forefront  of  the 
press.  So  they  twain  in  watch  against  the  death  or  flight  of 
their  comrades  were  doing  battle  apart  from  the  rest,  since 
thus  had  Nestor  charged  when  he  roused  them  forth  to  the 
battle  from  the  black  ships. 

Thus  all  day  long  waxed  the  mighty  fray  of  their  sore 
strife,  and  unabatingly  ever  with  the  sweat  of  toil  were  the 
knees  and  legs  and  feet  of  each  man  and  arms  and  eyes  bedewed 
as  the  two  hosts  did  battle  around  the  brave  squire  of  fleet 
Aiakides.    And  as  when  a  man  giveth  the  hide  of  a  great  bull 


314  HOMER 

to  his  folk  to  stretch,  all  soaked  in  fat,  and  they  take  and 
stretch  it  standing  in  a  circle,  and  straightway  the  moisture 
thereof  departeth  and  the  fat  entereth  in  under  the  haling  of 
many  hands,  and  it  is  all  stretched  throughout, — thus  they  on 
both  sides  haled  the  dead  man  this  way  and  that  in  narrow 
space,  for  their  hearts  were  high  of  hope,  the  Trojans  thai 
they  should  drag  him  to  Ilios  and  the  Achaians  to  the  hollow 
ships;  and  around  him  the  fray  waxed  wild,  nor  might  Ares 
rouser  of  hosts  nor  Athene  despise  the  sight  thereof,  albeit 
their  anger  were  exceeding  great. 

Such  was  the  grievous  travail  of  men  and  horses  over 
Patroklos  that  Zeus  on  that  day  wrought.  But  not  as  yet 
knew  noble  Achilles  aught  of  Patroklos'  death,  for  far  away 
from  the  swift  ships  they  were  fighting  beneath  the  wall  of  the 
men  of  Troy.  Therefore  never  deemed  he  in  his  heart  that 
he  was  dead,  but  that  he  should  come  back  alive,  after  that 
he  had  touched  the  gates;  for  neither  that  other  thought  had 
he  anywise,  that  Patroklos  should  sack  the  stronghold  without 
his  aid,  nay,  nor  yet  therewithal,  for  thus  had  he  oft  heard 
from  his  mother,  hearkening  to  her  apart  as  she  brought  tid- 
ings unto  him  of  the  purposes  of  mighty  Zeus.  Yet  verily 
then  his  mother  told  him  not  how  great  an  ill  was  come  to 
pass,  that  his  far  dearest  comrade  was  no  more. 

Now  the  rest  continually  around  the  dead  man  with  "their 
keen  spears  made  onset  relentlessly  and  slew  each  the  other. 
And  thus  would  one  speak  among  the  mail-clad  Achaians: 
"Friends,  it  were  verily  not  glorious  for  us  to  go  back  to  the 
hollow  ships ;  rather  let  the  black  earth  yawn  for  us  all  beneath 
our  feet.  Far  better  were  that  straightway  for  us  if  we  suffer 
the  horse-taming  Trojans  to  hale  this  man  to  their  city  and 
win  renown." 

And  thus  on  the  other  side  would  one  of  the  great-hearted 
Trojans  say:  "Friends,  though  it  were  our  fate  that  all 
together  we  be  slain  beside  this  man,  let  none  yet  give  backward 
from  the  fray." 

Thus  would  one  speak,  and  rouse  the  spirit  of  each.  So 
they  fought  on,  and  the  iron  din  went  up  through  the  high 
desert  air  unto  the  brazen  heaven.  But  the  horses  of  Aiakides 
that  were  apart  from  the  battle  were  weeping,  since  first  they 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVII  315 

were  aware  that  their  charioteer  was  fallen  in  the  dust  beneath 
the  hand  of  man-slaying  Hector.  Verily  Automedon,  Diores' 
valiant  son,  plied  them  oft  with  blows  of  the  swift  lash,  and 
oft  with  gentle  words  he  spake  to  them  and  oft  with  chiding, 
yet  would  they  neither  go  back  to  the  ships  at  the  broad 
Plellespont  nor  yet  to  the  battle  after  the  Achaians,  but  as  a 
pillar  abideth  firm  that  standeth  on  the  tomb  of  a  man  or 
woman  dead,  so  abode  they  immovably  with  the  beautiful 
chariot,  abasing  their  heads  unto  the  earth.  And  hot  tears 
flowed  from  their  eyes  to  the  ground  as  they  mourned  in  sor- 
row for  their  charioteer,  and  their  rich  manes  were  soiled  as 
they  drooped  from  beneath  the  yoke-cushion  on  both  sides 
beside  the  yoke.  And  when  the  son  of  Kronos  beheld  them 
mourning  he  had  compassion  on  them,  and  shook  his  head  and 
spake  to  his  own  heart :  "Ah,  hapless  pair,  why  gave  we  you 
to  king  Peleus,  a  mortal  man,  while  ye  are  deathless  and  ever 
young?  Was  it  that  ye  should  suffer  sorrows  among  ill-fated 
men?  For  methinketh  there  is  nothing  more  piteous  than  a 
man  among  all  things  that  breathe  and  creep  upon  the  earth. 
But  verily  Hector  Priam's  son  shall  not  drive  you  and  your 
deftly-wrought  car;  that  will  I  not  suffer.  Is  it  a  small  thing 
that  he  holdeth  the  armour  and  vaunteth  himself  vainly  there- 
upon? Nay,  I  will  put  courage  into  your  knees  and  heart  that 
ye  may  bring  Automedon  also  safe  out  of  the  war  to  the  hollow 
ships.  For  yet  further  will  I  increase  victory  to  the  men  of 
Troy,  so  that  they  slay  until  they  come  unto  the  well-timbered 
ships,  and  the  sun  set  and  divine  night  come  down." 

Thus  saying  he  breathed  good  courage  into  the  horses. 
And  they  shook  to  earth  the  dust  from  their  manes,  and 
lightly  bare  the  swift  car  amid  Trojans  and  Achaians.  And 
behind  them  fought  Automedon,  albeit  in  grief  for  his  com- 
rade, swopping  with  his  chariot  as  a  vulture  on  wild  geese; 
for  lightly  he  would  flee  out  of  the  onset  of  the  Trojans 
and  lightly  charge,  pursuing  them  through  the  thick  mellay. 
Yet  could  he  not  slay  any  man  as  he  hasted  to  pursue  them, 
for  it  was  impossible  that  being  alone  in  his  sacred  car  he 
should  at  once  assail  them  with  the  spear  and  hold  his  fleet 
horses.  Then  at  last  espied  him  a  comrade,  even  Alkimedon 
son  of  Laerkes,  son  of  Haimon,  and  he  halted  behind  the  car 


316  HOMER 

and  spake  nnto  Automedon:  "Automedon,  what  god  hath 
put  into  thy  breast  unprofitable  counsel  and  taken  from  thee 
wisdom,  that  thus  alone  thou  art  fighting  against  the  Trojans 
in  the  forefront  of  the  press?  Thy  comrade  even  now  was 
slain,  and  Hector  goeth  proudly,  wearing  on  his  own  shoulders 
the  armour  of  Aiakides." 

And  Automedon  son  of  Diores  answered  him,  saying: 
"Alkimedon,  what  other  Achaian  hath  Hke  skill  to  guide  the 
spirit  of  immortal  steeds,  save  only  Patroklos,  peer  of  gods  in 
counsel,  while  he  yet  lived?  but  now  have  death  and  fate 
overtaken  him.  But  take  thou  the  lash  and  shining  reins,  and 
I  will  get  me  down  from  my  horses,  that  I  may  fight." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Alkimedon  leapt  on  the  fleet  war- 
chariot  and  swiftly  took  the  lash  and  reins  in  his  hands,  and 
Automedon  leapt  down.  And  noble  Hector  espied  them,  and 
straightway  spake  unto  Aineias  as  he  stood  near:  "Aineias, 
counsellor  of  mail-clad  Trojans,  I  espy  here  the  two  horses  of 
fleet  Aiakides  come  forth  to  battle  with  feeble  charioteers. 
Therefore  might  I  hope  to  take  them  if  thou  in  thy  heart 
art  willing,  since  they  would  not  abide  our  onset  and  stand  to 
do  battle  against  us." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  brave  son  of  Anchises  disregarded 
him  not.  And  they  twain  went  right  onward,  their  shoulders 
shielded  by  ox-hides  dried  and  tough,  and  bronze  thick  over- 
laid. And  with  them  went  both  Chromios  and  godlike  Aretos, 
and  their  hearts  were  of  high  hope  to  slay  the  men  and  drive 
off  the  strong-necked  horses — fond  hope,  for  not  without  blood 
lost  were  they  to  get  them  back  from  Automedon.  He  pray- 
ing to  father  Zeus  was  filled  in  his  inmost  heart  with  valour 
and  strength.  And  straightway  he  spake  to  Alkimedon,  his 
faithful  comrade:  "Alkimedon,  hold  the  horses  not  far  from 
me,  but  with  their  very  breath  upon  my  back;  for  I  deem 
that  Hector  the  son  of  Priam  will  not  refrain  him  from  his 
fury  until  he  mount  behind  Achilles'  horses  of  goodly  manes 
after  slaying  us  twain,  and  dismay  the  ranks  of  Argive  men, 
or  else  himself  fall  among  the  foremost." 

Thus  said  he,  and  called  upon  the  Aiantes  and  Menelaos: 
"Aiantes,  leaders  of  the  Argives,  and  Menelaos,  lo  now,  com- 
mit ye  the  corpse  unto  whoso  may  best  avail  to  bestride  it  and 


THE    ILIAD— BOOK    XVII  317 

resist  the  ranks  of  men,  and  come  ye  to  ward  the  day  of  doom 
from  us  who  are  yet  ahve,  for  here  in  the  dolorous  war  are 
Hector  and  Aineias,  the  best  men  of  the  Trojans,  pressing 
hard.  Yet  verily  these  issues  lie  in  the  lap  of  the  gods :  I  too 
will  cast  my  spear,  and  the  rest  shall  Zeus  decide." 

He  said,  and  poised  his  far-shadowing  spear  and  hurled  it, 
and  smote  on  the  circle  of  the  shield  of  Aretos,  and  the  shield 
sustained  not  the  spear,  but  right  through  went  the  bronze, 
and  he  forced  it  into  his  belly  low  down  through  his  belt. 
And  as  when  a  strong  man  with  a  sharp  axe  smiting  behind 
the  horns  of  an  ox  of  the  homestead  cleaveth  the  sinew 
asunder,  and  the  ox  leapeth  forward  and  falleth,  so  leapt 
Aretos  forward  and  fell  on  his  back;  and  the  spear  in  his 
entrails  very  piercingly  quivering  unstrung  his  limbs.  And 
Hector  hurled  at  Automedon  with  his  bright  spear,  but  he 
looked  steadfastly  on  the  bronze  javelin  as  it  came  at  him  and 
avoided  it,  for  he  stooped  forward,  and  the  long  spear  fixed 
itself  in  the  ground  behind,  and  the  javelin-butt  quivered, 
and  there  dread  Ares  took  away  its  force.  And  then  had  they 
lashed  at  each  other  with  their  swords  hand  to  hand,  had  not 
the  Aiantes  parted  them  in  their  fury,  when  they  were  come 
through  the  mellay  at  their  comrade's  call.  Before  them 
Hector  and  Aineias  and  godlike  Chromios  shrank  backward 
and  gave  ground  and  left  Aretos  wounded  to  the  death  as  he 
lay.  And  Automedon,  peer  of  swift  Ares,  stripped  off  the 
armour  of  the  dead,  and  spake  exultingly:  "Verily,  I  have  a 
little  eased  my  heart  of  grief  for  the  death  of  Menoitios'  son, 
albeit  a  worse  man  than  him  have  I  slain." 

Thus  saying  he  took  up  the  gory  spoils  and  set  them 
in  his  car,  and  gat  him  thereon,  with  feet  and  hands  all  bloody, 
as  a  lion  that  hath  devoured  a  bull. 

So  again  above  Patroklos  was  waged  the  violent  fray,  cruel 
and  woful,  and  Athene  roused  their  strife,  from  heaven 
descended,  for  far-seeing  Zeus  sent  her  to  urge  on  the  Da- 
naans,  for  his  mind  was  changed.  As  Zeus  stretched  forth  a 
gleaming  rainbow  from  heaven  to  be  a  sign  to  mortals  whether 
of  war  or  of  chill  storm  that  maketh  men  to  cease  from 
their  works  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  afflicteth  flocks, 
thus   Athene  clothing  her  in  a  gleaming  cloud   entered   the 


318  HOMER 

:\chaians'  host,  and  roused  each  man  thereof.  First  to  urge 
Atreus'  son,  strong  Menelaos,  for  he  was  nigh  to  her,  she 
spake  to  him,  making  herself  like  unto  Phoinix  in  shape  and 
unwearying  voice  :  "To  thee  verily,  Menelaos,  will  be  it  shame 
and  reproach  if  beneath  the  wall  of  the  men  of  Troy  fleet  dogs 
tear  the  faithful  comrade  of  proud  Achilles.  Nay,  bear  thee 
stoutly  up,  and  urge  on  all  the  host." 

Then  answered  her  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry,  say- 
ing: "O  Phoinix,  ancient  father  of  the  elder  time,  would 
that  Athene  may  give  me  strength  and  keep  off  the  assault  of 
darts.  So  would  I  well  be  fain  to  stand  by  Patroklos  and  to 
shield  him,  for  his  death  touched  me  very  close  at  heart.  But 
Hector  hath  the  terrible  fury  of  fire,  neither  ceaseth  in  making 
havoc  with  his  spear,  for  to  him  Zeus  giveth  glory." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  was 
glad,  for  that  to  her  first  of  all  gods  whatsoever  he  prayed. 
And  she  put  force  into  his  shoulders  and  his  knees,  and  in 
his  breast  the  boldness  of  the  fly  that  albeit  driven  away  once 
and  again  from  the  skin  of  men  still  is  eager  to  bite,  and 
sweet  to  it  is  the  blood  of  mankind — even  with  such  boldness 
the  goddess  filled  his  inmost  heart,  and  he  bestrode  Patroklos, 
and  hurled  with  his  bright  spear.  Now  among  the  Trojans 
was  one  Podes,  son  of  Eetion,  a  rich  man  and  a  brave,  and 
Hector  honoured  him  especially  among  the  people  for  that  he 
was  his  dear  comrade  and  boon  companion.  Him  smote  fair- 
haired  Menelaos  in  the  belt  as  he  started  to  flee,  and  drove 
his  spearhead  right  through,  and  he  fell  with  a  crash,  and 
Menelaos,  Atreus'  son,  haled  his  body  from  amid  the  Trojans 
among  his  comrades'  company. 

But  Apollo  came  and  stood  near  Hector  and  aroused  him, 
in  the  semblance  of  Asios'  son  Phainops,  who  of  all  guest 
friends  was  dearest  to  him,  and  had  his  home  in  Abydos.  In 
his  likeness  spake  far-darting  Apollo  unto  Hector:  "Hector, 
what  other  of  the  Achaians  will  fear  thee  any  more,  if  now 
thou  hast  shrunk  from  Menelaos  who  formerly  was  an  unhardy 
warrior?  Now  is  he  gone  and  alone  hath  seized  a  dead  Tro- 
jan from  among  our  ranks,  and  hath  slain  thy  faithful  comrade, 
a  good  man  among  the  fighters  in  the  front,  even  Podes.  son 
of  Eetion." 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVII  319 

Thus  spake  he,  and  a  black  cloud  of  grief  fell  on  Hector, 
and  he  went  through  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  harnessed  in 
flashing  bronze.  Then  also  the  son  of  Kronos  took  up  his 
tasselled  aegis  glittering,  and  shrouded  Ida  in  clouds,  and 
lightened  and  thundered  mightily,  and  shook  tlie  earth ;  and 
he  gave  victory  to  the  Trojans,  and  the  Achaians  he  dismayed. 

First  to  set  dismay  on  foot  was  Peneleos  the  Boiotian. 
For  he  was  smitten  in  the  shoulder  by  a  javelin  grazingly  on 
the  surface,  as  he  kept  ever  his  face  to  the  foe ;  the  spear  point 
of  Polydamas  scratched  the  bone,  for  he  cast  it  from  nigh 
at  hand.  Then  again  Hector  in  close  fight  wounded  Le'itos  on 
the  wrist,  the  son  of  great-hearted  Alektryon,  and  stayed  him 
from  the  joy  of  battle :  and  he  shrank  back  as  he  gazed  around 
him,  for  that  he  might  no  longer  hope  to  hold  spear  in  hand  to 
do  battle  against  the  men  of  Troy.  Then  Idomeneus  smote 
Hector  as  he  pursued  after  Leitos  on  the  corslet  of  his  breast 
beside  the  nipple,  but  the  long  spear  brake  at  the  socket  and 
the  Trojans  shouted.  And  Hector  hurled  at  Idomeneus  son  of 
Deukalion  as  he  had  mounted  his  car,  and  missed  him  by  a 
little,  but  smote  Koiranos,  Meriones'  brother-in-arms  and 
charioteer  who  from  stablished  Lyktos  followed  him — (for  on 
foot  came  Idomeneus  first  from  the  curved  ships  and  would 
have  yielded  great  triumph  to  the  Trojans  had  not  Koiranos 
quickly  driven  up  his  fleet  horses,  and  thus  come  as  succour  to 
Idomeneus  and  guarded  him  from  the  day  of  death,  but  him- 
self lost  his  life  at  the  hands  of  man-slaying  Hector) — him 
Hector  smote  beneath  the  jaw  and  ear,  and  the  spear-end 
dashed  out  hi»  teeth  and  clave  his  tongue  asunder  in  the  midst. 
And  he  fell  forth  from  the  chariot  and  let  fall  the  reins  to  the 
ground.  Then  Meriones  stooped  and  gathered  them  in  his  own 
hands  from  the  earth  and  spake  unto  Idomeneus:  "Now  lay 
on,  till  thou  come  to  the  swift  ships:  thyself  too  knowest  that 
triumph  is  no  longer  with  the  Achaians." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Idomeneus  lashed  the  horses  of  goodly 
manes  back  to  the  hollow  ships;  for  fear  had  fallen  upon 
his  soul. 

Now  great-hearted  Aias  and  Menelaos  were  aware  of  Zeus 
how  he  gave  the  Trojans  their  turn  of  victory.  First  of  these 
to  speak  was  great  Aias  son  of  Telamon :    "Ay  me,  now  may 


320  HOMER 

any  man,  even  though  he  be  a  very  fool,  know  that  father 
Zeus  himself  is  helping  the  Trojans.  For  the  darts  of  all  of 
them  strike,  whosoever  hurleth  them,  be  he  good  man  or  bad — 
Zeus  guideth  them  notwithstanding  home:  but  all  our  darts 
only  fall  idly  to  the  earth.  Nay  come,  let  us  ourselves  devise 
some  excellent  means,  that  we  may  both  hale  the  corpse  away 
and  ourselves  return  home  to  the  joy  of  our  friends,  who  grieve 
as  they  look  hitherward  and  deem  that  no  longer  shall  the 
fury  of  man-slaying  Hector's  unapproachable  hand  refrain 
itself,  but  fall  upon  the  black  ships.  And  would  there  were 
some  comrade  to  carry  tidings  with  all  speed  unto  the  son  of 
Peleus,  since  I  deem  that  he  hath  not  even  heard  the  grievous 
tidings,  how  his  dear  comrade  is  slain.  But  nowhere  can  I 
behold  such  an  one  among  the  Achaians,  for  themselves  and 
their  horses  likewise  are  wrapped  in  darkness.  O  father  Zeus, 
deliver  thou  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  from  the  darkness,  and 
make  clear  sky  and  vouchsafe  sight  unto  our  eyes.  In  the 
light  be  it  that  thou  slayest  us,  since  it  is  thy  good  pleasure 
that  we  die." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  Father  grieved  to  see  him  weep, 
and  straightway  scattered  the  darkness  and  drave  away  the 
mist,  and  the  sun  shone  out  on  them,  and  all  the  battle  was 
manifest.  Then  spake  Aias  to  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war- 
cry  :  "Look  forth  now,  Menelaos  fosterling  of  Zeus,  if  haply 
thou  mayest  see  Antilochos  yet  alive,  great-hearted  Nestor's 
son,  and  rouse  him  to  go  with  speed  to  wise  Achilles  to  tell 
him  that  his  far  dearest  comrade  is  slain." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry  disre- 
garded him  not,  but  went  forth  as  a  lion  from  a  steading  when 
he  is  tired  of  vexing  men  and  dogs  that  suffer  him  not  to 
devour  fat  oxen  and  all  night  keep  their  watch;  but  he  in 
hunger  for  flesh  presseth  onward  yet  availeth  nought,  for 
thickly  fly  the  javelins  against  him  from  hardy  hands,  with 
blazing  firebrands,  wherefrom  he  shrinketh  for  all  his  fury, 
and  in  the  morning  departeth  afar  with  grief  at  heart : — thus 
from  Patroklos  went  Menelaos  of  the  loud  war-cry,  sore  loth ; 
for  exceedingly  he  feared  lest  the  Achaians  in  cruel  rout  should 
leave  him  a  prey  to  the  enemy.  And  straitly  charged  he 
Meriones  and  the  Aiantes,  saying:     "Aiantes,  leaders  of  the 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVII  321 

Argives,  and  Meriones,  now  let  each  remember  the  loving- 
kindness  of  hapless  Patroklos,  for  he  would  be  gentle  unto 
all  while  he  was  yet  alive:  now  death  and  fate  have  over- 
taken him," 

Thus  saying  fair-haired  Menelaos  departed  glancing  every- 
whither, as  an  eagle  which  men  say  hath  keenest  sight  of  all 
birds  under  heaven,  and  though  he  be  far  aloft  the  fleet-footed 
hare  eludeth  him  not  by  crouching  beneath  a  leafy  bush,  but 
the  eagle  swoopeth  thereon  and  swiftly  seizeth  her  and  taketh 
her  life.  Thus  in  that  hour,  Menelaos  fosterling  of  Zeus, 
ranged  thy  shining  eyes  everywhither  through  the  multitude  of 
the  host  of  thy  comrades,  if  haply  they  might  behold  Nestor's 
son  yet  alive.  Him  quickly  he  perceived  at  the  left  of  the  whole 
battle,  heartening  his  comrades  and  rousing  them  to  fight.  And 
fair-haired  Menelaos  came  and  stood  nigh  and  said  unto  him : 
"Antilochos,  fosterling  of  Zeus,  come  hither  that  thou  mayest 
learn  woful  tidings — would  it  had  never  been.  Ere  now,  I 
ween,  thou  too  hast  known  by  thy  beholding  that  God  rolleth 
mischief  upon  the  Danaans,  and  with  the  Trojans  is  victory. 
And  slain  is  the  best  man  of  the  Achaians  Patroklos,  and  great 
sorrow  is  wrought  for  the  Danaans.  But  run  thou  to  the  ships 
of  the  Achaians  and  quickly  tell  this  to  Achilles,  if  haply  he 
may  straightway  rescue  to  his  ship  the  naked  corpse:  but  his 
armour  is  held  by  Hector  of  the  glancing  helmet." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Antilochos  had  horror  of  the  word  he 
heard.  And  long  time  speechlessness  possessed  him,  and  his 
eyes  were  filled  with  tears,  and  his  full  voice  choked.  Yet  for 
all  this  disregarded  he  not  the  bidding  of  Menelaos,  but  set  him 
to  run,  when  he  had  given  his  armour  to  a  noble  comrade, 
Laodokos,  who  close  anigh  him  was  wheeling  his  whole-hooved 
horses. 

So  him  his  feet  bare  out  of  the  battle  weeping,  to  Achilles 
son  of  Peleus  carrying  an  evil  tale.  But  thy  heart,  Menelaos 
fosterling  of  Zeus,  chose  not  to  stay  to  aid  the  wearied  com- 
rades from  whom  Antilochos  departed,  and  great  sorrow  was 
among  the  Pylians.  But  to  them  Menelaos  sent  noble  Thrasy- 
medes,  and  himself  went  again  to  bestride  the  hero  Patrok- 
los. And  he  hasted  and  stood  beside  the  Aiantes  and  straight- 
way spake  to  them:    "So  have  I  sent  that  man  to  the  swift 


322  HOMER 

ships  to  go  to  fleet-footed  Achilles.  Yet  deem  I  not  that  he 
will  now  come,  for  all  his  wrath  against  noble  Hector,  for  he 
could  not  fight  unarmed  against  the  men  of  Troy.  But  let 
us  ourselves  devise  some  excellent  means,  both  how  we  may 
hale  the  dead  away,  and  how  we  ourselves  may  escape  death 
and  fate  amid  the  Trojans'  battle-cry." 

Then  answered  him  great  Aias  Telamon's  son,  saying: 
''AH  this  hast  thou  said  well,  most  noble  Menelaos.  But  do 
thou  and  Meriones  put  your  shoulders  beneath  the  dead  and 
lift  him  and  bear  him  swiftly  out  of  the  fray,  while  we  twain 
behind  you  shall  do  battle  with  the  Trojans  and  noble  Hector, 
one  in  heart  as  we  are  in  name,  for  from  of  old  time  we  are 
wont  to  await  fierce  battle  side  by  side." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  others  took  the  dead  man  in  their 
arms  and  lifted  him  mightily  on  high.  But  the  Trojan  host 
behind  cried  aloud  when  they  saw  the  Achaians  lifting  the 
corpse,  and  charged  like  hounds  that  spring  in  front  of  hunter- 
youths  upon  a  wounded  wild  boar,  and  for  a  while  run  in 
in  haste  to  rend  him,  but  when  lie  wheeleth  round  among 
them,  trusting  in  his  might,  then  they  give  ground  and  shrink 
back  here  and  there.  Thus  for  a  while  the  Trojans  pressed 
on  with  all  their  power,  striking  with  swords  and  double-headed 
spears,  but  when  the  Aiantes  turned  about  and  halted  over 
against  them,  then  they  changed  colour,  and  none  dared  farther 
onset  to  do  battle  around  the  dead. 

Thus  were  those  twain  struggling  to  bear  the  corpse  out  of 
the  battle  toward  the  hollow  ships,  but  the  stress  of  war 
waxed  fierce  upon  them  as  fire  that  leapeth  on  a  city  of  men 
and  bursteth  into  sudden  blaze,  and  houses  perish  amid  the 
mighty  glare,  and  it  roareth  beneath  the  strength  of  the  wind. 
Thus  roared  the  unceasing  din  of  horses  and  of  fighting  men 
against  the  bearers  as  they  went.  As  mules  that  throw  their 
great  strength  into  the  draught  and  drag  out  of  the  mountain 
down  a  rugged  track  some  beam  or  huge  ship-timber,  and  their 
hearts  as  they  strive  are  spent  with  toil  and  sweat,  thus  were 
those  twain  struggling  to  bear  the  corpse.  And  behind  them 
the  two  Aiantes  held  their  ground,  as  a  woody  ridge  that 
chanceth  to  stretch  all  its  length  across  the  plain  holdeth  back 
a  flood  and  stayeth  even  the  wasting  streams  of  mighty  rivers. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK    XVIII  323 

and  turneth  all  their  current  wandering  into  the  plain,  neither 
doth  the  violence  of  their  stream  break  through  it.  Thus 
ever  the  Aiantes  kept  back  the  Trojans'  battle,  but  they  pressed 
hard  anigh,  and  among  them  twain  the  first,  even  Aineias, 
Anchises'  son,  and  glorious  Hector.  As  flieth  a  flock  of  star- 
lings or  of  daws  with  confused  cries  when  they  sec  a  hawk 
coming,  to  small  birds  bearer  of  death,  thus  before  Aineias 
and  Hector  the  Achaian  youth  confusedly  crying  fell  back,  and 
forgat  the  joy  of  battle.  And  thickly  fell  the  goodly  arms 
about  and  around  the  trench,  as  the  Danaans  fled,  and  there 
was  never  a  pause  of  fight. 


BOOK  XVIII 

How  Achilles  grieved  for  Patroklos,  and  how  Thetis  asked  for 
him  new  armour  of  Hephaistos ;  and  of  the  making  of  the  armour. 

Thus  fought  the  rest  in  the  likeness  of  blazing  fire,  while  to 
Achilles  came  Antilochos,  a  messenger  fleet  of  foot.  Him 
found  he  in  front  of  his  ships  of  upright  horns,  boding  in  his 
soul  the  things  which  even  now  were  accomplished.  And  sore 
troubled  he  spake  to  his  great  heart:  "Ay  me,  wherefore 
again  are  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  flocking  to  the  ships  and 
flying  in  rout  over  the  plain?  May  the  gods  not  have  wrought 
against  me  the  grievous  fears  at  my  heart,  even  as  my  mother 
revealed  and  told  me  that  while  I  am  yet  alive  the  best  man  of 
the  Myrmidons  must  by  deed  of  the  men  of  Troy  forsake  the 
light  of  the  sun.  Surely  now  must  Menoitios'  valiant  son  be 
dead — foolhardy!  surely  I  bade  him  when  he  should  have 
beaten  off  the  fire  of  the  foe  to  come  back  to  the  ships  nor  with 
Hector  fight  amain." 

While  thus  he  held  debate  in  his  heart  and  soul,  there  drew 
nigh  unto  him  noble  Nestor's  son,  shedding  hot  tears,  and 
spake  his  grievous  tidings:  "Ay  me,  wise  Peleus'  son,  very 
bitter  tidings  must  thou  hear,  such  as  I  would  had  never  been. 
Fallen  is  Patroklos,  and  they  are  fighting  around  his  body, 
naked,  for  his  armour  is  held  by  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm." 


324  HOMER 

Thus  spake  he,  and  a  black  cloud  of  grief  enwrapped 
Achilles,  and  with  both  hands  he  took  dark  dust  and  poured  it 
over  his  head  and  defiled  his  comely  face,  and  on  his  fragrant 
doublet  black  ashes  fell.  And  himself  in  the  dust  lay  mighty 
and  mightily  fallen,  and  with  his  own  hands  tore  and  marred 
his  hair.  And  the  handmaidens,  whom  Achilles  and  Patroklos 
took  captive,  cried  aloud  in  the  grief  of  their  hearts,  and  ran 
forth  around  valiant  Achilles,  and  all  beat  on  their  breasts  with 
their  hands,  and  the  knees  of  each  of  them  were  unstrung. 
And  Antilochos  on  the  other  side  wailed  and  shed  tears,  hold- 
ing Achilles'  hands  while  he  groaned  in  his  noble  heart,  for  he 
feared  lest  he  should  cleave  his  throat  with  the  sword.  Then 
terribly  moaned  Achilles ;  and  his  lady  mother  heard  him  as  she 
sate  in  the  depths  of  the  sea  beside  her  ancient  sire.  And  there- 
on she  uttered  a  cry,  and  the  goddesses  flocked  around  her,  all 
the  daughters  of  Nereus  that  were  in  the  deep  of  the  sea.  There 
were  Glauke,  and  Thaleia,  and  Kymodoke,  Nesaia  and  Speio 
and  Thoe  and  ox-eyed  Halie  and  Kymothoe  and  Aktaie  and 
Limnoreia  and  Melite  and  laira  and  Amphithoe  and  Agaue  and 
Doto  and  Proto  and  Pherusa  and  Dynamene  and  Dexa- 
mene  and  Amphinome  and  Kallianeira,  Doris  and  Panope  and 
noble  Galateia,  and  Nemertes,  and  Apseudes  and  Kallianassa, 
and  there  were  Klymene  and  laneira  and  lanassa  and  Maira, 
and  Oreithuia,  and  fair-tressed  Amathyia,  and  other  Nereids 
that  were  in  the  deep  of  the  sea.  With  these  the  bright  cave  was 
filled,  and  they  all  beat  together  on  their  breasts,  and  Thetis  led 
the  lament :  "Listen,  sister  Nereids,  that  ye  all  hear  and  know 
well  what  sorrows  are  in  my  heart.  Ay  me  unhappy,  ay  me 
that  bare  to  my  sorrow  the  first  of  men !  For  after  I  had  born 
a  son  noble  and  strong,  the  chief  of  heroes,  and  he  shot  up  like 
a  young  branch,  then  when  I  had  reared  him  as  a  plant  in  a 
very  fruitful  field  I  sent  him  in  beaked  ships  to  Ilios  to  fight 
against  the  men  of  Troy ;  but  never  again  shall  I  welcome  him 
back  to  his  home,  to  the  house  of  Peleus.  And  while  he  yet 
liveth  in  my  sight  and  beholdeth  the  light  of  the  sun,  he  sorrow- 
eth,  neither  can  I  help  him  any  whit  though  I  go  unto  him. 
But  I  will  go,  that  I  may  look  upon  my  dear  child,  and  learn 
what  sorrow  hath  come  to  him  though  he  abide  aloof  from  the 
war." 


THE    TLTAD— BOOK    XVIII  325 

Thus  spake  she  and  left  the  cave;  and  the  nymphs  went 
with  her  weeping,  and  around  them  the  surge  of  the  sea  was 
sundered.  And  when  they  came  to  deep-soiled  Troy-land  they 
went  up  upon  the  shore  in  order,  where  the  ships  of  the  Myrmi- 
dons were  drawn  up  thickly  around  fleet  Achilles.  And  as  he 
groaned  heavily  his  lady  mother  stood  beside  him,  and  with  a 
shrill  cry  clasped  the  head  of  her  child,  and  spake  unto  him 
winged  words  of  lamentation :  "My  child,  why  weepest  thou? 
what  sorrow  hath  come  to  thy  heart  ?  Tell  it  forth,  hide  it  not. 
One  thing  at  least  hath  been  accomplished  of  Zeus  according  to 
the  prayer  thou  madest,  holding  up  to  him  thy  hands,  that  the 
sons  of  the  Achaians  should  all  be  pent  in  at  the  ships,  through 
lack  of  thee,  and  should  suffer  hateful  things." 

Then  groaning  heavily  spake  unto  her  Achilles  fleet  of 
foot:  "My  mother,  that  prayer  truly  hath  the  Olympian  ac- 
complished for  me.  But  what  delight  have  I  therein,  since  my 
dear  comrade  is  dead,  Patroklos,  whom  I  honoured  above  all 
my  comrades  as  it  were  my  very  self?  Him  have  I  lost,  and 
Hector  that  slew  him  hath  stripped  from  him  the  armour  great 
and  fair,  a  wonder  to  behold,  that  the  gods  gave  to  Peleus  a 
splendid  gift,  on  the  day  when  they  laid  thee  in  the  bed  of  a 
mortal  man.  Would  thou  hadst  abode  among  the  deathless 
daughters  of  the  sea,  and  Peleus  had  wedded  a  mortal  bride! 
But  now,  that  thou  mayest  have  sorrow  a  thousandfold  in  thy 
heart  for  a  dead  son,  never  shalt  thou  welcome  him  back  home, 
since  my  soul  biddeth  me  also  live  no  longer  nor  abide  among 
men,  if  Hector  be  not  first  smitten  by  my  spear  and  yield  his 
life,  and  pay  for  his  slaughter  of  Patroklos,  Menoitios'  son." 

Then  answered  unto  him  Thetis  shedding  tears:  "Short- 
lived, I  ween,  must  thou  be  then,  my  child,  by  what  thou  sayest, 
for  straightway  after  Hector  is  death  appointed  unto  thee." 

Then  mightily  moved  spake  unto  her  Achilles  fleet  of  foot : 
"Straightway  may  I  die,  since  I  might  not  succour  my  comrade 
at  his  slaying.  He  hath  fallen  afar  from  his  country  and 
lacked  my  help  in  his  sore  need.  Now  therefore,  since  I  go  not 
back  to  my  dear  native  land,  neither  have  at  all  been  succour  to 
Patroklos  nor  to  all  my  other  comrades  that  have  been  slain  by 
noble  Hector,  but  I  sit  beside  my  ships  a  profitless  burden  of 
the  earth,  I  that  in  war  am  such  an  one  as  is  none  else  of  the 


326  HOMER 

mail-clad  Achaians,  though  in  council  are  others  better — may 
strife  perish  utterly  among  gods  and  men,  and  wrath  that  stir- 
reth  even  a  wise  man  to  be  vexed,  wrath  that  far  sweeter  than 
trickling  honey  waxeth  like  smoke  in  the  breasts  of  men,  even 
as  I  was  wroth  even  now  against  Agamemnon  king  of  men. 
But  bygones  will  we  let  be,  for  all  our  pain,  curbing  the  heart 
in  our  breasts  under  necessity.  Now  go  I  forth,  that  I  may 
light  on  the  destroyer  of  him  I  loved,  on  Hector:  then  will  I 
accept  my  death  whensoever  Zeus  willeth  to  accomplish  it  and 
the  other  immortal  gods.  For  not  even  the  mighty  Herakles 
escaped  death,  albeit  most  dear  to  Kronian  Zeus  the  king,  but 
Fate  overcame  him  and  Hera's  cruel  wrath.  So  also  shall  I, 
if  my  fate  hath  been  fashioned  likewise,  lie  low  when  I  am 
dead.  But  now  let  me  win  high  renown,  let  me  set  some  Tro- 
jan woman,  some  deep-bosomed  daughter  of  Dardanos, 
staunching  with  both  hands  the  tears  upon  her  tender  cheeks 
and  wailing  bitterly ;  yea,  let  them  know  that  I  am  come  back, 
though  I  tarried  long  from  the  war.  Hold  not  me  then  from 
the  battle  in  thy  love,  for  thou  shalt  not  prevail  with  me." 

Then  Thetis  the  silver-footed  goddess  answered  him  say- 
ing :  "Yea  verily,  my  child,  no  blame  is  in  this,  that  thou  ward 
sheer  destruction  from  thy  comrades  in  their  distress.  But 
thy  fair  glittering  armour  of  bronze  is  held  among  the  Tro- 
jans. Hector  of  the  glancing  helm  beareth  it  on  his  shoulders 
in  triumph,  yet  not  for  long,  I  ween,  shall  he  glory  therein,  for 
death  is  hard  anigh  him.  But  thou  go  not  yet  down  into  the 
mellay  of  war  until  thou  see  me  with  thine  eyes  come  hither. 
In  the  morning  will  I  return,  at  the  coming  up  of  the  sun,  bear- 
ing fair  armour  from  the  king  Hephaistos." 

Thus  spake  she  and  turned  to  go  from  her  son,  and  as  she 
turned  she  spake  among  her  sisters  of  the  sea:  "Ye  now  go 
down  within  the  wide  bosom  of  the  deep,  to  visit  the  Ancient 
One  of  the  Sea  and  our  father's  house,  and  tell  him  all.  I  am 
going  to  high  Olympus  to  Hephaistos  of  noble  skill,  if  haply 
he  will  give  unto  my  son  noble  armour  shining  gloriously." 

Thus  spake  she,  and  they  forthwith  went  down  beneath  the 
surge  of  the  sea.  And  the  silver-footed  goddess  Thetis  went 
on  to  Olympus  that  she  might  bring  noble  armour  to  her  son. 

So  her  unto  Olympus  her  feet  bore.     But  the  Achaians 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVIII  327 

with  terrible  cries  were  fleeing  before  man-slaying  Hector  till 
they  came  to  the  ships  and  to  the  Hellespont.  Nor  might  the 
well-greaved  Achaians  drag  the  corpse  of  Patroklos  Achilles' 
squire  out  of  the  darts,  for  now  again  overtook  him  the  host 
and  the  horses  of  Troy,  and  Hector  son  of  Priam,  in  might  as 
it  were  a  flame  of  fire.  Thrice  did  glorious  Hector  seize  him 
from  behind  by  the  feet,  resolved  to  drag  him  away,  and 
mightily  called  upon  the  men  of  Troy.  Thrice  did  the  two 
Aiantes,  clothed  on  with  impetuous  might,  beat  him  off  from 
the  dead  man,  but  he  nathless,  trusting  in  his  might,  anon 
would  charge  into  the  press,  anon  would  stand  and  cry  aloud, 
but  he  gave  ground  never  a  whit.  As  when  shepherds  in 
the  field  avail  no  wise  to  chase  a  fiery  lion  in  fierce  hunger 
away  from  a  carcase,  so  availed  not  the  two  warrior  Aiantes 
to  scare  Hector  son  of  Priam  from  the  dead.  And  now 
would  he  have  won  the  body  and  gained  renown  unspeakable, 
had  not  fleet  wind-footed  Iris  come  speeding  from  Olympus 
with  a  message  to  the  son  of  Peleus  to  array  him,  unknown  of 
Zeus  and  the  other  gods,  for  Hera  sent  her.  And  she  stood 
anigh  and  spake  to  him  winged  words:  "Rouse  thee,  son  of 
Peleus,  of  all  men  most  redoubtable!  Succour  Patroklos,  for 
whose  body  is  terrible  battle  afoot  before  the  ships.  There 
slay  they  one  another,  these  guarding  the  dead  corpse,  while 
the  men  of  Troy  are  fierce  to  hale  him  unto  windy  Ilios,  and 
chiefliest  noble  Hector  is  fain  to  drag  him,  and  his  heart  bid- 
deth  him  fix  the  head  on  the  stakes  of  the  wall  when  he  hath 
sundered  it  from  the  tender  neck.  But  arise,  lie  thus  no 
longer !  let  awe  enter  thy  heart  to  forbid  that  Patroklos  become 
the  sport  of  dogs  of  Troy.  Thine  were  the  shame  if  he  go 
down  mangled  amid  the  dead." 

Then  answered  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles :  "Goddess  Iris, 
what  god  sent  thee  a  messenger  unto  me?" 

And  to  him  again  spake  wind-footed  fleet  Iris:  "It  was 
Hera  that  sent  me,  the  wise  wife  of  Zeus,  nor  knoweth  the 
high-throned  son  of  Kronos  nor  any  other  of  the  Immortals 
that  on  snowy  Olympus  have  their  dwelling  place." 

And  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  made  answer  to  her  and  said: 
"And  how  may  I  go  into  the  fray?  The  Trojans  hold  my 
arms ;  and  my  dear  mother  bade  me  forbear  to  array  me  until 


328  HOMER 

I  behold  her  with  my  eyes  returned,  for  she  promised  to  bring 
fair  armour  from  Hephaistos.  Other  man  know  I  none  whose 
noble  armour  I  might  put  on,  save  it  were  the  shield  of  Aias 
Telamon's  son.  But  himself,  I  ween,  is  in  the  fore-front  of 
the  press,  dealing  death  with  his  spear  around  Patroklos 
dead." 

Then  again  spake  unto  him  wind-footed  fleet  Iris :  "Well 
are  we  also  aware  that  thy  noble  armour  is  held  from  thee. 
But  go  forth  unto  the  trench  as  thou  art  and  show  thyself  to 
the  men  of  Troy,  if  haply  they  will  shrink  back  and  refrain 
them  from  battle,  and  the  warlike  sons  of  the  Achaians  take 
breath  amid  their  toil,  for  small  breathing-time  is  in  the  thick 
of  fight." 

Thus  spake  fleet-footed  Iris  and  went  her  way.  But  Achil- 
les dear  to  Zeus  arose,  and  around  his  strong  shoulders 
Athene  cast  her  tasselled  aegis,  and  around  his  head  the  bright 
goddess  set  a  crown  of  a  golden  cloud,  and  kindled  therefrom 
a  blazing  flame.  And  as  when  a  smoke  issueth  from  a  city 
and  riseth  up  into  the  upper  air,  from  an  island  afar  off  that 
foes  beleaguer,  while  the  others  from  their  city  fight  all  day 
in  hateful  war, — but  with  the  going  down  of  the  sun  blaze  out 
the  beacon-fires  in  line,  and  high  aloft  rusheth  up  the  glare  for 
dwellers  round  about  to  behold,  if  haply  they  may  come  with 
ships  to  help  in  need — thus  from  the  head  of  Achilles  soared 
that  blaze  toward  the  heavens.  And  he  went  and  stood  be- 
yond the  wall  beside  the  trench,  yet  mingled  not  among  the 
Achaians,  for  he  minded  the  wise  bidding  of  his  mother. 
There  stood  he  and  shouted  aloud,  and  afar  off  Pallas  Athene 
uttered  her  voice,  and  spread  terror  unspeakable  among  the 
men  of  Troy.  Clear  as  the  voice  of  a  clarion  when  it  sound- 
eth  by  reason  of  slaughterous  foemen  that  beleaguer  a  city,  so 
clear  rang  forth  the  voice  of  Aiakides.  And  when  they  heard 
the  brazen  voice  of  Aiakides,  the  souls  of  all  of  them  were  dis- 
mayed, and  the  horses  of  goodly  manes  were  fain  to  turn  the 
chariots  backward,  for  they  boded  anguish  in  their  hearts. 
And  the  charioteers  were  amazed  when  they  saw  the  unweary- 
ing fire  blaze  fierce  on  the  head  of  the  great-hearted  son  of 
Peleus,  for  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene  made  it  blaze. 
Thrice  from  over  the  trench  shouted  mightily  noble  Achilles, 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVIII  329 

and  thrice  were  the  men  of  Troy  confounded  and  their  proud 
alhes.  Yea  there  and  then  perished  twelve  men  of  their  best 
by  their  own  chariot  wheels  and  spears.  But  the  Achaians 
with  joy  drew  Patroklos  forth  of  the  darts  and  laid  him  on  a 
litter,  and  his  dear  comrades  stood  around  lamenting  him ;  and 
among  them  followed  fleet-footed  Achilles,  shedding  hot  tears, 
for  his  true  comrade  he  saw  lying  on  the  bier,  mangled  by  the 
keen  bronze.  Him  sent  he  forth  with  chariot  and  horses  unto 
the  battle,  but  home  again  welcomed  never  more. 

Then  Hera  the  ox-eyed  queen  sent  down  the  unwearying 
Sun  to  be  gone  unwillingly  unto  the  streams  of  Ocean.  So  the 
Sun  set,  and  the  noble  Achaians  made  pause  from  the  stress 
of  battle  and  the  hazardous  war. 

Now  the  men  of  Troy  on  their  side  when  they  were  come 
back  out  of  the  violent  fray  loosed  their  swift  horses  from  the 
chariots  and  gathered  themselves  in  assembly  or  ever  they 
would  sup.  Upon  their  feet  they  stood  in  the  assembly, 
neither  had  any  man  heart  to  sit,  for  fear  was  fallen  upon  all 
because  Achilles  was  come  forth,  after  long  ceasing  from  fell 
battle.  Then  began  to  speak  among  them  wise  Polydamas, 
son  of  Panthoos,  for  he  alone  saw  before  and  after.  Comrade 
of  Hector  was  he,  and  in  the  same  night  were  both  born,  but 
the  one  in  speech  was  far  the  best,  the  other  with  the  spear. 
So  with  good  intent  toward  them  he  made  harangue  and 
spake:  "Take  good  heed  on  both  sides,  O  my  friends;  for 
my  part  I  would  have  ye  go  up  now  to  the  city,  not  wait  for 
bright  morning  on  the  plain  beside  the  ships,  for  we  are  far 
off  from  the  wall.  So  long  as  this  man  was  wroth  with  noble 
Agamemnon,  so  long  were  the  Achaians  easier  to  fight  against, 
ay  and  I  too  rejoiced  when  I  couched  nigh  their  swift  ships, 
trusting  that  we  should  seize  the  curved  ships  for  a  prey.  But 
now  am  I  sore  afraid  of  the  fleet  son  of  Peleus;  so  exceeding 
fierce  is  his  heart,  he  will  not  choose  to  abide  in  the  plain  where 
Trojans  and  Achaians  both  in  the  midst  share  the  spirit  of 
war,  but  the  prize  he  doeth  battle  for  will  be  our  city  and  our 
wives.  Now  go  we  up  to  our  fastness ;  hearken  unto  me.  for 
thus  will  it  be.  Now  hath  divine  night  stayed  the  fleet  son  of 
Peleus,  but  if  to-morrow  full-armed  for  the  onset  he  shall  light 
upon  us  abiding  here,  well  shall  each  know  that  it  is  he,  for 


330  HOMER 

gladly  will  whosoever  fleeth  win  to  sacred  Ilios,  and  many  of 
the  men  of  Troy  shall  dogs  and  vultures  devour — far  be  that 
from  my  ear.  But  if,  though  loth,  we  hearken  unto  my  words, 
this  night  in  counsel  we  shall  possess  our  strength,  and  the 
city  shall  be  guarded  of  her  towers  and  high  gates  and  tall 
well-polished  doors  that  fit  thereon  close-shut.  But  at  dawn  of 
day  in  armour  harnessed  will  we  take  our  stand  along  the 
towers.  Ill  will  he  fare  if  he  come  forth  from  the  ships  to 
fight  with  us  for  our  wall.  Back  to  his  ships  shall  he  betake 
him  when  in  vain  chase  he  hath  gi\'en  his  strong-necked  horses 
their  fill  of  hasting  everywhither  beneath  the  town.  But  with- 
in it  never  will  he  have  heart  to  force  his  way,  nor  ever  lay  it 
waste;  ere  then  shall  he  be  devoured  of  swift  dogs." 

Then  with  stern  gaze  spake  unto  him  Hector  of  the  glanc- 
ing helm:  "Polydamas,  no  longer  to  my  liking  dost  thou 
speak  now,  in  that  thou  biddest  us  go  back  and  be  pent  within 
the  town.  Have  ye  not  had  your  fill  already  of  being  pent 
behind  the  towers?  Of  old  time  all  mortal  men  would  tell  of 
this  city  of  Priam  for  the  much  gold  and  bronze  thereof,  but 
now  are  its  goodly  treasures  perished  out  of  its  dwellings,  and 
much  goods  are  sold  away  to  Phrygia  and  pleasant  Maionia, 
since  mighty  Zeus  dealt  evilly  with  us.  But  now  when  the 
son  of  crooked-counselling  Kronos  hath  given  me  to  win  glory 
at  the  ships  and  to  pen  the  Achaians  beside  the  sea,  no  longer, 
fond  man,  put  forth  such  counsels  among  the  folk.  No  man 
of  Troy  will  hearken  unto  thee,  I  will  not  suffer  it.  But  come 
let  us  all  be  persuaded  as  I  shall  say.  Sup  now  in  your  ranks 
throughout  the  host,  and  keep  good  ward,  and  each  watch  in 
his  place.  And  whoso  of  the  Trojans  is  grieved  beyond  meas- 
ure for  his  goods,  let  him  gather  them  together  and  give  them 
to  the  people  to  consume  in  common,  for  it  is  better  they  have 
joy  thereof  than  the  Achaians.  Then  at  dawn  of  day  in  ar- 
mour harnessed  at  the  hollow  ships  we  will  arouse  keen  war. 
What  though  in  very  truth  noble  Achilles  be  arisen  beside  the 
ships,  ill  shall  he  fare,  if  he  will  have  it  so.  I  at  least  will  not 
flee  from  him  out  of  the  dread-sounding  war,  but  full  facing 
him  will  I  stand,  to  try  whether  he  win  great  victory,  or  haply  I. 
The  war-god  is  alike  to  all  and  a  slayer  of  him  that  would  slay." 

Thus  Hector  spake,  and  the  men  of  Troy  applauded  with 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVIII  331 

fond  hearts,  for  Pallas  Athene  bereft  them  of  their  wit.  And 
they  gave  assent  to  the  ill  advising  of  Hector,  but  none  heark- 
ened to  Polydamas  who  devised  good  counsel.  Then  they 
supped  throughout  the  host;  but  the  Achaians  all  night  made 
moan  in  lamentation  for  Patroklos.  And  first  of  them  in  the 
loud  lamentation  was  the  son  of  Peleus,  laying  upon  the  breast 
of  his  comrade  his  man-slaying  hands  and  moaning  very  sore, 
even  as  a  deep-bearded  lion  whose  whelps  some  stag-hunter 
hath  snatched  away  out  of  a  deep  wood;  and  the  lion  coming 
afterward  grieveth,  and  through  many  glens  he  rangeth  on  the 
track  of  the  foot-steps  of  the  man,  if  anywhere  he  might  find 
him,  for  most  bitter  anger  seizeth  him; — thus  Achilles  moan- 
ing heavily  spake  among  the  Myrmidons :  "Ay  me,  vain  ver- 
ily was  the  word  I  uttered  on  that  day  when  I  cheered  the  hero 
Menoitios  in  his  halls  and  said  that  I  would  bring  back  to 
Opoeis  his  son  in  glory  from  the  sack  of  Ilios  with  the  share  of 
spoil  that  should  fall  unto  him.  Not  all  the  purposes  of  men 
doth  Zeus  accomplish  for  them.  It  is  appointed  that  both  of 
us  redden  the  same  earth  with  our  blood  here  in  Troy-land,  for 
neither  shall  the  old  knight  Peleus  welcome  me  back  home 
within  his  halls,  nor  my  mother  Thetis,  but  even  here  shall 
earth  keep  hold  on  me.  Yet  now,  O  Patroklos,  since  I  follow 
thee  under  earth,  I  will  not  hold  thy  funeral  till  I  have  brought 
hither  the  armour  and  the  head  of  Hector,  thy  high-hearted 
slayer,  and  before  thy  pyre  I  will  cut  the  throats  of  twelve 
noble  sons  of  the  men  of  Troy,  for  mine  anger  thou  art  slain. 
Till  then  beside  the  beaked  ships  shalt  thou  lie  as  thou  art,  and 
around  thee  deep-bosomed  women,  Trojan  and  Dardanian, 
shall  mourn  thee  weeping  night  and  day,  even  they  whom  we 
toiled  to  win  by  our  strength  and  our  long  spears  when  we 
sacked  rich  cities  of  mortal  men." 

Thus  spake  noble  Achilles,  and  bade  his  comrades  set  a 
great  tripod  on  the  fire,  that  with  all  speed  they  might  wash 
from  Patroklos  the  bloody  gore.  So  they  set  a  tripod  of  ab- 
lution on  the  burning  fire,  and  poured  therein  water  and  took 
wood  and  kindled  it  beneath ;  and  the  fire  wrapped  the  belly  of 
the  tripod,  and  the  water  grew  hot.  And  when  the  water 
boiled  in  the  bright  bronze,  then  washed  they  him  and  an- 
nointed  with  olive  oil,  and  filled  his  wounds  with  fresh  oint- 


332  HOMER 

ment,  and  laid  him  on  a  bier  and  covered  him  with  soft  cloth 
from  head  to  foot,  and  thereover  a  white  robe.  Then  all 
night  around  Achilles  fleet  of  foot  the  Myrmidons  made  lament 
and  moan  for  Patroklos. 

Meanwhile  Zeus  spake  unto  Hera  his  sister  and  wife: 
"Thou  hast  accomplished  this,  O  Hera,  ox-eyed  queen,  thou 
hast  aroused  Achilles  fleet  of  foot.  Verily  of  thine  own  chil- 
dren must  the  flowing-haired  Achaians  be." 

Then  answered  unto  him  Hera  the  ox-eyed  queen :  "Most 
dtead  son  of  Kronos,  what  is  this  word  thou  hast  said  ?  Truly 
even  a  man,  I  ween,  is  to  accomplish  what  he  may  for  another 
man,  albeit  he  is  mortal  and  hath  not  wisdom  as  we.  How 
then  was  I  who  avow  me  the  first  of  goddesses  both  by  birth 
and  for  that  I  am  called  thy  wife,  and  thou  art  king  among  all 
Immortals — how  was  I  not  in  mine  anger  to  devise  evil  against 
the  men  of  Troy?" 

So  debated  they  on  this  wise  with  one  another.  But  Thetis 
of  the  silver  feet  came  unto  the  house  of  Hephaistos,  imper- 
ishable, starlike,  far  seen  among  the  dwellings  of  Immortals,  a 
house  of  bronze,  wrought  by  the  crook-footed  god  himself. 
Him  found  she  sweating  in  toil  and  busy  about  his  bellows,  for 
he  was  forging  tripods  twenty  in  all  to  stand  around  the  wall 
of  his  stablished  hall,  and  beneath  the  base  of  each  he  had  set 
golden  wheels,  that  of  their  own  motion  they  might  enter  the 
assembly  of  the  gods  and  again  return  unto  his  house,  a  marvel 
to  look  upon.  Thus  much  were  they  finished  that  not  yet  were 
the  ears  of  cunning  work  set  thereon;  these  was  he  making 
ready,  and  welding  chains.  While  hereat  he  was  labouring 
with  wise  intent,  then  drew  nigh  unto  him  Thetis,  goddess  of 
the  silver  feet.  And  Charis  went  forward  and  beheld  her, 
fair  Charis  of  the  shining  chaplet  whom  the  renowned  lame 
god  had  wedded.  And  she  clasped  her  hand  in  hers  and  spake 
and  called  her  by  her  name:  "Wherefore,  long-robed  Thetis, 
comest  thou  to  our  house,  honoured  that  thou  art  and  dear? 
No  frequent  comer  art  thou  hitherto.  But  come  onward  with 
me  that  I  may  set  guest -cheer  before  thee," 

Thus  spake  the  bright  goddess  and  led  her  on.  Then  set 
she  her  on  a  silver-studded  throne,  goodly,  of  cunning  work, 
and  a  footstool  was  beneath  her  feet;  and  she  called  to  He- 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVIII  333 

phaistos,  the  famed  artificer,  and  said  unto  him :     "Hephaistos, 
come  forth  hither,  Thetis  hath  need  of  thee." 

And  the  renowned  lame  god  made  answer  to  her :  "Verily 
a  dread  and  honoured  goddess  in  my  sight  is  she  that  is  within, 
seeing  that  she  delivered  me  when  pain  came  upon  me  from 
my  great  fall  though  the  ill-will  of  my  shameless  mother  who 
would  fain  have  hid  me  away,  for  that  I  was  lame.  Then  had 
I  suffered  anguish  of  heart  had  not  Eurynome  and  Thetis  taken 
me  into  their  bosom — Eurynome  daughter  of  Ocean  that  flow- 
eth  back  ever  upon  himself.  Nine  years  with  them  I  wrought 
much  cunning  work  of  bronze,  brooches  and  spiral  arm-bands 
and  cups  and  necklaces,  in  the  hollow  cave,  while  around  me 
the  stream  of  Ocean  with  murmuring  foam  flowed  infinite. 
Neither  knew  thereof  any  other  of  gods  or  of  mortal  men, 
save  only  Thetis  and  Eurynome  who  delivered  me.  And  now 
Cometh  Thetis  to  our  house;  wherefore  behoveth  it  me  verily 
in  all  wise  to  repay  fair-tressed  Thetis  for  the  saving  of  my 
life.  But  do  thou  now  set  beside  her  fair  entertainment,  while 
I  put  away  my  bellows  and  all  my  gear." 

He  said,  and  from  the  anvil  rose  limping,  a  huge  bulk,  but 
under  him  his  slender  legs  moved  nimbly.  The  bellows  he  set 
away  from  the  fire,  and  gathered  all  his  gear  wherewith  he 
worked  into  a  silver  chest;  and  with  a  sponge  he  wiped  his 
face  and  hands  and  sturdy  neck  and  shaggy  breast,  and  did  on 
his  doublet,  and  took  a  stout  staff  and  went  forth  limping ;  but 
there  were  handmaidens  of  gold  that  moved  to  help  their  lord, 
the  semblances  of  living  maids.  In  them  is  understanding  at 
their  hearts,  in  them  are  voice  and  strength,  and  they  have 
skill  of  the  immortal  gods.  These  moved  beneath  their  lord, 
and  he  gat  him  haltingly  near  to  where  Thetis  was,  and  set 
him  on  a  bright  seat,  and  clasped  her  hand  in  his  and  spake 
and  called  her  by  her  name:  "Wherefore,  long-robed  Thetis, 
comest  thou  to  our  house,  honoured  that  thou  art  and  dear? 
No  frequent  comer  art  thou  hitherto.  Speak  what  thou  hast 
at  heart ;  my  soul  is  fain  to  accomplish  it,  if  accomplish  it  I  can, 
and  if  it  be  appointed  for  accomplishment." 

Then  answered  unto  him  Thetis  shedding  tears:  "He- 
phaistos,  hath  there  verily  been  any  of  all  goddesses  in  Olym- 
pus that  hath  endured  so  many  grievous  sorrows  at  heart  as 


334  HOMER 

are  the  woes  that  Kronian  Zeus  hath  laid  upon  me  above  all 
others?  He  chose  me  from  among  the  sisters  of  the  sea  to 
enthrall  me  to  a  man,  even  Peleus  Aiakos'  son,  and  with  a  man 
I  endured  wedlock  sore  against  my  will.  Now  lieth  he  in  his 
halls  forspent  with  grievous  age,  but  other  griefs  are  mine.  A 
son  he  gave  me  to  bear  and  nourish,  the  chief  of  heroes,  and 
he  shot  up  like  a  young  branch.  Like  a  plant  in  a  very  fruit- 
ful field  I  reared  him  and  sent  him  forth  on  beaked  ships  to 
Ilios  to  fight  against  the  men  of  Troy,  but  never  again  shall  I 
welcome  him  back  to  his  home  within  the  house  of  Peleus. 
And  while  he  yet  liveth  in  my  sight  and  beholdeth  the  light  of 
the  sun,  he  sorroweth,  neither  can  I  help  him  any  whit  though 
I  go  unto  him.  The  maiden  whom  the  sons  of  the  Achaians 
chose  out  to  be  his  prize,  her  hath  the  lord  Agamemnon  taken 
back  out  of  his  hands.  In  grief  for  her  wasted  he  his  heart ; 
while  the  men  of  Troy  were  driving  the  Achaians  on  their 
ships,  nor  suffered  them  to  come  forth.  And  the  elders  of  the 
Argives  entreated  him,  and  told  over  many  noble  gifts.  Then 
albeit  himself  he  refused  to  ward  destruction  from  them,  he 
put  his  armour  on  Patroklos  and  sent  him  to  the  war,  and  much 
people  with  him.  All  day  they  fought  around  the  Skaian 
gates  and  that  same  day  had  sacked  the  town,  but  that  when 
now  Menoitios'  valiant  son  had  wrought  much  haiTn,  Apollo 
slew  him  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  and  gave  glory  unto 
Hector.  Therefore  now  come  I  a  suppliant  unto  thy  knees,  if 
haply  thou  be  willing  to  give  my  short-lived  son  shield  and 
helmet,  and  goodly  greaves  fitted  with  ankle-pieces,  and  cuirass. 
For  the  armour  that  he  had  erst,  his  trusty  comrade  lost  when 
he  fell  beneath  the  men  of  Troy ;  and  my  son  lieth  on  the  earth 
with  anguish  in  his  soul." 

Then  made  answer  unto  her  the  lame  god  of  great  renown : 
"Be  of  good  courage,  let  not  these  things  trouble  thy  heart. 
Would  that  so  might  I  avail  to  hide  him  far  from  dolorous 
death,  when  dread  fate  cometh  upon  him,  as  surely  shall  goodly 
armour  be  at  his  need,  such  as  all  men  afterward  shall  marvel 
at,  whosoever  may  behold." 

Thus  saying  he  left  her  there  and  went  unto  his  bellows 
and  turned  them  upon  the  fire  and  bade  them  work.  And  the 
bellows,  twenty  in  all,  blew  on  the  crucibles,  sending  deft  blasts 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVIII  335 

on  every  side,  now  to  aid  his  labour  and  now  anon  howsoever 
Hephaistos  willed  and  the  work  went  on.  And  he  threw  bronze 
that  weareth  not  into  the  fire,  and  tin  and  precious  gold  and 
silver,  and  next  he  set  on  an  anvil-stand  a  great  anvil,  and  took 
in  his  hand  a  sturdy  hammer,  and  in  the  other  he  took  the  tongs. 

First  fashioned  he  a  shield  great  and  strong,  adorning  it 
all  over,  and  set  thereto  a  shining  rim,  triple,  bright-glancing, 
and  therefrom  a  silver  baldric.  Five  were  the  folds  of  the 
shield  itself;  and  therein  fashioned  he  much  cunning  work 
from  his  wise  heart. 

There  wrought  he  the  earth,  and  the  heavens,  and  the  sea, 
and  the  unwearying  sun,  and  the  moon  waxing  to  the  full,  and 
the  signs  every  one  wherewith  the  heavens  are  crowned,  Plei- 
ads and  Hyads  and  Orion's  might,  and  the  Bear  that  men  call 
also  the  Wain,  her  that  turneth  in  her  place  and  watcheth 
Orion,  and  alone  hath  no  part  in  the  baths  of  Ocean. 

Also  he  fashioned  therein  two  fair  cities  of  mortal  men. 
In  the  one  were  espousals  and  marriage  feasts,  and  beneath  the 
blaze  of  torches  they  were  leading  the  brides  from  their  cham- 
bers through  the  city,  and  loud  arose  the  bridal  song.  And 
young  men  were  whirling  in  the  dance,  and  among  them  flutes 
and  viols  sounded  high;  and  the  women  standing  each  at  her 
door  were  marvelling.  But  the  folk  were  gathered  in  the 
assembly  place ;  for  there  a  strife  was  arisen,  two  men  striving 
about  the  blood-price  of  a  man  slain;  the  one  claimed  to  pay 
full  atonement,  expounding  to  the  people,  but  the  other  denied 
him  and  would  take  naught ;  and  both  were  fain  to  receive  ar- 
bitrament at  the  hand  of  a  daysman.  And  the  folk  were 
cheering  both,  as  they  took  part  on  either  side.  And  heralds 
kept  order  among  the  folk,  while  the  elders  on  polished  stones 
were  sitting  in  the  sacred  circle,  and  holding  in  their  hands 
staves  from  the  loud-voiced  heralds.  Then  before  the  people 
they  rose  up  and  gave  judgment  each  in  turn.  And  in  the 
midst  lay  two  talents  of  gold,  to  be  given  unto  him  who  should 
plead  among  them  most  righteously. 

But  around  the  other  city  were  two  armies  in  siege  with 
glittering  arms.  And  two  counsels  found  favour  among  them, 
either  to  sack  the  town  or  to  share  all  with  the  townsfolk 
even  whatsoever  substance  the  fair  city  held  within.     But  the 


336  HOMER 

besieged  were  not  yet  yielding,  but  arming  for  an  ambush- 
ment.  On  the  wall  there  stood  to  guard  it  their  dear  wives 
and  infant  children,  and  with  these  the  old  men;  but  the  rest 
went  forth,  and  their  leaders  were  Ares  and  Pallas  Athene, 
both  wrought  in  gold,  and  golden  was  the  vesture  they  had  on. 
Goodly  and  great  were  they  in  their  armour,  even  as  gods,  far 
seen  around,  and  the  folk  at  their  feet  were  smaller.  And 
when  they  came  where  it  seemed  good  to  them  to  lay  ambush, 
in  a  river  bed  where  there  was  a  common  watering-place  of 
herds,  there  they  set  them,  clad  in  glittering  bronze.  And  two 
scouts  were  posted  by  them  afar  off  to  spy  the  coming  of 
flocks  and  of  oxen  with  crooked  horns.  And  presently  came 
the  cattle,  and  with  them  two  herdsmen  playing  on  pipes,  that 
took  no  thought  of  the  guile.  Then  the  others  when  they  be- 
held these  ran  upon  them  and  quickly  cut  off  the  herds  of 
oxen  and  fair  flocks  of  white  sheep,  and  slew  the  shepherds 
withal.  But  the  besiegers,  as  they  sat  before  the  speech-places 
and  heard  much  din  among  the  oxen,  mounted  forthwith  be- 
hind their  high-stepping  horses,  and  came  up  with  speed. 
Then  they  arrayed  their  battle  and  fought  beside  the  river 
banks,  and  smote  one  another  with  bronze-shod  spears.  And 
among  them  mingled  Strife  and  Tumult,  and  fell  Death, 
grasping  one  man  alive  fresh-wounded,  another  without 
wound,  and  dragging  another  dead  through  the  mellay  by  the 
feet ;  and  the  raiment  on  her  shoulders  was  red  with  the  blood 
of  men.  Like  living  mortals  they  hurled  together  and  fought, 
and  haled  the  corpses  each  of  the  other's  slain. 

Furthermore  he  set  in  the  shield  a  soft  fresh-ploughed 
field,  rich  tilth  and  wide,  the  third  time  ploughed;  and  many 
ploughers  therein  drave  their  yokes  to  and  fro  as  they  wheeled 
about.  Whensoever  they  came  to  the  boundary  of  the  field 
and  turned,  then  would  a  man  come  to  each  and  give  into 
his  hands  a  goblet  of  sweet  wine,  while  others  would  be 
turning  back  along  the  furrows,  fain  to  reach  the  boundary  of 
the  deep  tilth.  And  the  field  grew  black  behind  and  seemed 
as  it  were  a-ploughing,  albeit  of  gold,  for  this  was  the  great 
marvel  of  the  work. 

Furthermore  he  set  therein  the  demesne-land  of  a  king, 
where  hinds  were  reaping  with  sharp  sickles  in  their  hands. 


THE   ILIAD— BOOK   XVIII  337 

Some  arm  fills  along  the  swathe  were  falling  in  rows  to  the 
earth,  whilst  others  the  sheaf-binders  were  binding  in  twisted 
bands  of  straw.  Three  sheaf-binders  stood  over  them,  while 
behind  boys  gathering  com  and  bearing  it  in  their  arms  gave 
it  constantly  to  the  binders,  and  among  them  the  king  in 
silence  was  standing  at  the  swathe  with  his  staff,  rejoicing  in 
his  heart.  And  henchmen  apart  beneath  an  oak  were  making 
ready  a  feast,  and  preparing  a  great  ox  they  had  sacrificed; 
while  the  women  were  strewing  much  white  barley  to  be  a 
supper  for  the  hinds. 

Also  he  set  therein  a  vineyard  teeming  plenteously  with 
clusters,  wrought  fair  in  gold;  black  were  the  grapes,  but  the 
vines  hung  throughout  on  silver  poles.  And  around  it  he  ran 
a  ditch  of  cyanus,  and  round  that  a  fence  of  tin ;  and  one  single 
pathway  led  to  it,  whereby  the  vintagers  might  go  when  they 
should  gather  the  vintage.  And  maidens  and  striplings  in 
childish  glee  bare  the  sweet  fruit  in  plaited  baskets.  And  in 
the  midst  of  them  a  boy  made  pleasant  music  on  a  clear-toned 
viol,  and  sang  thereto  a  sweet  Linos-song'  with  delicate  voice ; 
while  the  rest  with  feet  falling  together  kept  time  with  the 
music  and  song. 

Also  he  wrought  therein  a  herd  of  kine  with  upright  horns, 
and  the  kine  were  fashioned  of  gold  and  tin,  and  with  lowing 
they  hurried  from  the  byre  to  pasture  beside  a  murmuring 
river,  beside  the  waving  reed.  And  herdsmen  of  gold  were 
following  with  the  kine,  four  of  them,  and  nine  dogs  fleet  of 
foot  came  after  them.  But  two  terrible  lions  among  the  fore- 
most kine  had  seized  a  loud-roaring  bull  that  bellowed  might- 
ily as  they  haled  him,  and  the  dogs  and  the  young  men  sped 
after  him.  The  lions  rending  the  great  bull's  hide  were  de- 
vouring his  vitals  and  his  black  blood;  while  the  herdsmen  in 
vain  tarred  on  their  fleet  dogs  to  set  on,  for  they  shrank  from 
biting  the  lions  but  stood  hard  by  and  barked  and  swerved 
away. 

Also  the  glorious  lame  god  wrought  therein  a  pasture  in  a 
fair  glen,  a  great  pasture  of  white  sheep,  and  a  steading,  and 
roofed  huts,  and  folds. 


^  Probably  a  lament  for  departing  summer. 


338  HOMER 

Also  did  the  glorious  lame  god  devise  a  dancing-place  like 
unto  that  which  once  in  wide  Knosos  Daidalos  wrought  for 
Ariadne  of  the  lovely  tresses.  There  were  youths  dancing  and 
maidens  of  costly  wooing,  their  hands  upon  one  another's 
wrists.  Fine  linen  the  maidens  had  on,  and  the  youths  well- 
woven  doublets  faintly  glistening  with  oil.  Fair  wreaths  had 
the  maidens,  and  the  youths  daggers  of  gold  hanging  from 
silver  baldrics.  And  now  would  they  run  round  with  deft 
feet  exceeding  lightly,  as  when  a  potter  sitting  by  his  wheel 
that  fitteth  between  his  hands  maketh  trial  of  it  whether  it 
run :  and  now  anon  they  would  run  in  lines  to  meet  each  other. 
And  a  great  company  stood  round  the  lovely  dance  in  joy; 
and  among  them  a  divine  minstrel  was  making  music  on  his 
lyre,  and  through  the  midst  of  them,  leading  the  measure,  two 
tumblers  whirled. 

Also  he  set  therein  the  great  might  of  the  River  of  Ocean 
around  the  uttermost  rim  of  the  cunningly-fashioned  shield. 

Now  when  he  had  wrought  the  shield  great  and  strong, 
then  wrought  he  him  a  corslet  brighter  than  a  flame  of  fire, 
and  he  wrought  him  a  massive  helmet  to  fit  his  brows,  goodly 
and  graven,  and  set  thereon  a  crest  of  gold,  and  he  wrought 
him  greaves  of  pliant  tin. 

So  when  the  renowned  lame  god  had  finished  all  the 
armour,  he  took  and  laid  it  before  the  mother  of  Achilles. 
Then  she  like  a  falcon  sprang  down  from  snowy  Olympus, 
bearing  from  Hephaistos  the  glittering  arms. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XIX  339 


BOOK  XIX 

How  Achilles  and  Agamemnon  were  reconciled  before  the  as- 
sembly of  the  Achaians,  and  Achilles  went  forth  with  them  to  battle. 

Now  Morning  saffron-robed  arose  from  the  streams  of 
Ocean  to  bring  light  to  gods  and  men,  and  Thetis  came  to  the 
ships,  bearing  his  gift  from  the  god.  Her  dear  son  she  found 
fallen  about  Patroklos  and  uttering  loud  lament;  and  round 
him  many  of  his  company  made  moan.  And  the  bright  god- 
dess stood  beside  him  in  their  midst,  and  clasped  her  hand  in 
his  and  spal<e  and  called  upon  his  name :  "  My  child,  him  who 
lieth  here  we  must  let  be,  for  all  our  pain,  for  by  the  will  of 
gods  from  the  beginning  was  he  brought  low.  But  thou  take 
from  Hephaistos  arms  of  pride,  arms  passing  goodly,  such 
as  no  man  on  his  shoulders  yet  hath  borne." 

Thus  spake  the  goddess  and  in  front  of  Achilles  laid  the 
arms,  and  they  rang  all  again  in  their  glory.  And  awe  fell 
on  all  tlie  Myrmidons,  nor  dared  any  to  gaze  thereon,  for  they 
were  awe-stricken.  But  when  Achilles  looked  thereon,  then 
came  fury  upon  him  the  more,  and  his  eyes  blazed  terribly 
forth  as  it  were  a  flame  beneath  their  lids :  glad  was  he  as  he 
held  in  his  hands  that  splendid  gift  of  a  god.  But  when  he 
had  satisfied  his  soul  in  gazing  on  the  glory  of  the  arms, 
straightway  to  his  mother  spake  he  winged  words:  "My 
mother,  the  arms  the  god  has  given  are  such  as  it  beseemeth 
that  the  work  of  Immortals  should  be,  and  that  no  mortal  man 
should  have  wrought.  Now  therefore  will  I  arm  me  in  them, 
but  I  have  grievous  fear  lest  meantime  on  the  gashed  wounds 
of  Menoitios'  valiant  son  flies  light  and  breed  worms  therein, 
and  defile  his  corpse — for  the  life  is  slain  out  of  him — and  so 
all  his  flesh  shall  rot." 

Then  answered  him  Thetis,  goddess  of  the  silver  feet : 
"Child,  have  no  care  for  this  within  thy  mind.  I  will  see 
to  ward  from  him  the  cruel  tribes  of  flies  which  prey  on  men 
slain  in  fight :  for  even  though  he  lie  till  a  whole  year's  course 
be  run,  yet  his  flesh  shall  be  sound  continually,  or  better  even 
than  now.     But  call  thou  the  Achaian  warriors  to  the  place 


340  HOMER 

of  assembly,  and  unsay  thy  wrath  against  Agamemnon  shep- 
herd of  the  host,  and  then  arm  swiftly  for  battle,  and  clothe 
thee  with  thy  strength." 

Thus  saying  she  filled  him  with  adventurous  might,  while 
on  Patroklos  she  shed  ambrosia  and  red  nectar  through  his 
nostrils,  that  his  flesh  might  abide  the  same  continually. 

But  noble  Achilles  went  down  the  beach  of  the  sea,  crying 
his  terrible  cry,  and  roused  the  Achaian  warriors.  And  they 
who  before  were  wont  to  abide  in  the  circle  of  the  ships,  and 
they  who  were  helmsmen  and  kept  the  steerage  of  the  ships, 
or  were  stewards  there  and  dealt  out  food,  even  these  came 
then  to  the  place  of  assembly,  because  Achilles  was  come 
forth,  after  long  ceasing  from  grievous  war.  Limping  came 
two  of  Ares'  company,  Tydeus'  son  staunch  in  fight  and  noble 
Odysseus,  each  leaning  on  his  spear,  for  their  wounds  were 
grievous  still ;  and  they  went  and  sate  them  down  in  the  fore- 
front of  the  assembly.  And  last  came  Agamemnon  king  of 
men,  with  his  wound  upon  him,  for  him  too  in  the  stress  of 
battle  Koon  Antenor's  son  had  wounded  with  his  bronze- 
tipped  spear.  But  when  all  the  Achaians  were  gathered, 
then  uprose  fleet-footed  Achilles  and  spake  in  their  midst: 
"Son  of  Atreus,  was  this  in  any  wise  the  better  way  for  both 
thee  and  me,  what  time  with  grief  at  our  hearts  we  waxed 
fierce  in  soul-devouring  strife  for  the  sake  of  a  girl?  Would 
that  Artemis  had  slain  her  with  her  arrow  at  the  ships,  on  the 
day  whereon  I  took  her  to  me,  when  I  had  spoiled  Lyrnessos ; 
so  should  not  then  so  many  Achaians  have  bitten  the  wide 
earth  beneath  their  enemies'  hands,  by  reason  of  my  exceeding 
wrath.  It  hath  been  well  for  Hector  and  the  Trojans,  but  the 
Achaians  I  think  shall  long  remember  the  strife  that  was 
betwixt  thee  and  me.  But  bygones  will  we  let  be,  for  all  our 
pain,  and  curb  under  necessity  the  spirit  within  our  breasts. 
I  now  will  stay  my  anger;  it  beseems  me  not  implacably  for 
ever  to  be  wroth;  but  come  rouse  speedily  to  the  fight  the 
flowing-haired  Achaians,  that  I  may  go  forth  against  the 
men  of  Troy  and  put  them  yet  again  to  the  proof,  if  they  be 
fain  to  couch  hard  by  the  ships.  Methinks  that  some  among 
them  shall  be  glad  to  rest  their  knees  when  they  are  fled  out 
of  the  fierceness  of  the  battle,  and  from  before  our  spear." 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XIX  341 

He  spake,  and  the  well-greaved  Achaians  rejoiced  that 
the  great-hearted  son  of  Peleus  had  made  renouncement  of 
his  wrath.  Then  among  them  spake  Agamemnon  king  of  men, 
speaking  from  the  place  where  he  sat,  not  arisen  to  stand  forth 
in  their  midst:  "O  Danaan  friends  and  heroes,  men  of  Ares' 
company,  seemly  is  it  to  listen  to  him  who  standeth  up  to  speak, 
nor  behoveth  it  to  break  in  upon  his  words :  even  toward  a 
skilled  man  that  were  hard.  For  amid  the  uproar  of  many 
men  how  should  one  listen,  or  yet  speak?  even  the  clearest- 
voiced  speech  is  marred.  To  the  son  of  Peleus  I  will  declare 
myself,  but  ye  other  Argives  give  heed,  and  each  mark  well 
my  word.  Oft  have  the  Achaians  spoken  thus  to  me,  and  up- 
braided me;  but  it  is  not  I  who  am  the  cause,  but  Zeus  and 
Destiny  and  Erinys  that  walketh  in  the  darkness,  who  put 
into  my  soul  fierce  madness  on  the  day  when  in  the  assembly 
I,  even  I,  bereft  Achilles  of  his  meed.  What  could  I  do?  it 
is  God  who  accomplisheth  all.  Eldest  daughter  of  Zeus  is 
Ate  who  blindeth  all,  a  power  of  bane:  delicate  are  her  feet, 
for  not  upon  earth  she  goeth,  but  walketh  over  the  heads  of 
men,  making  men  to  fall ;  and  entangleth  this  one  or  that.  Yea 
even  Zeus  was  blinded  upon  a  time,  he  who  they  say  is  great- 
est among  gods  and  men ;  yet  even  him  Hera  with  female  wile 
deceived,  on  the  day  when  Alkmene  in  fair-crowned  Thebes 
was  to  bring  forth  the  strength  of  Herakles.  For  then  pro- 
claimed he  solemnly  among  all  the  gods:  'Hear  me  ye  all, 
both  gods  and  goddesses,  while  I  utter  the  counsel  of  my  soul 
within  my  heart.  This  day  shall  Eileithuia,  the  help  of  tra- 
vailing women,  bring  to  the  light  a  man  who  shall  be  lord  over 
all  that  dwell  round  about,  among  the  race  of  men  who  are 
sprung  of  me  by  blood.'  And  to  him  in  subtlety  queen  Hera 
spake:  'Thou  wilt  play  the  cheat  and  not  accomplish  thy 
word.  Come  now,  Olympian,  swear  me  a  firm  oath  that 
verily  and  indeed  shall  that  man  be  lord  over  all  that  dwell 
round  about,  who  this  day  shall  fall  between  a  woman's  feet, 
even  he  among  all  men  who  are  of  the  lineage  of  thy  blood.' 
So  spake  she,  and  Zeus  no  wise  perceived  her  subtlety,  but 
sware  a  mighty  oath,  and  therewith  was  he  sore  blinded.  For 
Hera  darted  from  Olympus'  peak,  and  came  swiftly  to  Achaian 
Argos,  where  she  knew  was  the  stately  wife  of  Sthenelos  son 


342  HOMER 

of  Perseus,  who  also  was  great  with  child,  and  her  seventh 
month  was  come.  Her  son  Hera  brought  to  the  light,  though 
his  tale  of  months  was  untold,  but  she  stayed  Alkmene's  bear- 
ing and  kept  the  Eileithuiai  from  her  aid.  Then  she  brought 
the  tidings  herself  and  to  Kronos'  son  Zeus  she  spake :  'Father 
Zeus  of  the  bright  lightning,  a  word  will  I  speak  to  thee  for 
thy  heed.  To-day  is  born  a  man  of  valour  who  shall  rule 
among  the  Argives,  Eurystheus,  son  of  Sthenelos  the  son  of 
Perseus,  of  thy  lineage;  not  unmeet  is  it  that  he  be  lord 
among  Argives.'  She  said,  but  sharp  pain  smote  him  in  the 
depths  of  his  soul,  and  straightway  he  seized  Ate  by  her  bright- 
haired  head  in  the  anger  of  his  soul,  and  sware  a  mighty  oath 
that  never  again  to  Olympus  and  the  starry  heaven  should 
Ate  come,  who  blindeth  all  alike.  He  said,  and  whirling  her 
in  his  hand  flung  her  from  the  starry  heaven,  and  quickly 
came  she  down  among  the  works  of  men.  Yet  ever  he  groaned 
against  her  when  he  beheld  his  beloved  son  in  cruel  travail 
at  Eurystheus'  best.  Thus  also  I,  what  time  great  Hector 
of  the  glancing  helm  was  slaying  Argives  at  the  sterns  of  our 
ships,  could  not  be  unmindful  of  Ate,  who  blinded  me  at 
the  first.  But  since  thus  blinded  was  I,  and  Zeus  bereft  me 
of  my  wit,  fain  am  I  to  make  amends,  and  recompense  mani- 
fold for  the  wrong.  Only  arise  thou  to  the  battle  and  rouse 
the  rest  of  the  host.  Gifts  am  I  ready  to  offer,  even  all  that 
noble  Odysseus  went  yesterday  to  promise  in  thy  hut.  So, 
if  thou  wilt,  stay  a  while,  though  eager,  from  battle,  and 
squires  shall  take  the  gifts  from  my  ship  and  carry  them  to 
thee,  that  thou  mayest  see  that  what  I  give  sufficeth  thee." 

Then  answered  him  Achilles  swift  of  foot:  "Most  noble 
son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  for  the  gifts,  to  give 
them  as  it  beseemeth,  if  so  thou  wilt,  or  to  withhold,  is  in  thy 
choice.  But  now  let  us  bethink  us  of  battle  with  all  speed; 
this  is  no  time  to  dally  here  with  subtleties,  for  a  great  work 
is  yet  undone.  Once  more  must  Achilles  be  seen  in  the  fore- 
front of  the  battle,  laying  waste  with  his  brazen  spear  the 
battalions  of  the  men  of  Troy.  Thereof  le';  each  of  you  think 
as  he  fighteth  with  his  man." 

Then  Odysseus  of  many  counsels  answered  him  and  said : 
"Nay  yet,   for  all  thy  valour,  godlike  Achilles,  not  against 


HOMER  BEGGING 

From  a  painting  by  Jules  J.  A.  Lecomte-dii-N ouy 

"Sevex  wealthy  towns  coxtexd  for  Homer  dead, 
Through  which  the  living  Homer  begged  his  bread." 


-Page  15 


T  Perscu"^ 

fnonth  wa.s  i  -Jiiie 
his  tale  of  months 
ing  and  kept  the  1 
the  tidings  her.s.  " 
Zeus  of  the  bi 
thy  heed.     To 
among  the 
Perseus,  c 
among  Ar^L 
depths  of  his  soul, 
haired  head  in  tlic 


great 


•m  her  aid.    Tlv 

ts'  son  Zeus  she 

word  will  I  spt 

!     (  '  valour  wh' 
s,  son  of  Sthenelos 
'     unmeet  is  it  that   1 
but  sharp  pain  smote  him 
vay  he  seized  Ate  by  ' 


iile 


soul,  and  sware  a  n  , 
that  never  again  to  Olympus  and  the  starry  heaven  shoui  I 
Ate  come,  who  blindeth  all  alike.  He  said,  and  whirling  her 
in  his  hand  flung  her  from  the  starry  heaven,  and  quickly 
came  she  down  among  the  works  of  men.  Yet  ever  he  groaned 
ajr  ■  -  when  he  l>ehHd  his  beloved  son  in  cruel 

at   ..-  us'  hfst.     Thus  also  I,  what  time  great   ' 

of  the  as  slaying  Argives  at  the  stems 

ships. 


them  a^ 
choice,  b 
this  is  no  ' 
is  yet  undc 
front  of  the  !^ 
.  battalions  of  ti: 
as  he  fighteth 

Then  Odysseiv-^ 
"  Nay  yet,   for  all 


let  us  t 
ially  heu.    - 
ce  more  mi 


man. 


e,  and 

hem  to 

liceth  thee." 

f  toot:    "Most  noblt^ 

...j,n,  for  the  gifts,  to  gi\c 

1t.  or  to  withhold,  is  in  thv 

f  battle  with  all  speed; 

eties,  for  a  great  work 

lies  be  seen  in  the  fore- 

1  his  brazen  spear  the 

.  .f  1p'  t-Ach  of  you  think 

liim  and  said : 
.   _    . .cs,   not  ai'amst 


,aA3a  asMoH  aoh  avia.Tnoo  sviv/ot  yhtjasw  navaS" 
".aAaati  am  aaooaa  h3moH  oviivij  3ht  hdihw  iiouohhT 


gi  ^sb4— 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XIX  343 

Ilios  lead  thou  the  sons  of  Achaians  fasting  to  fight  the  men 
of  Troy,  since  not  of  short  spell  shall  the  battle  be,  when 
once  the  ranks  of  men  are  met,  and  God  shall  breathe  valour 
into  both.  But  bid  the  Achaians  taste  at  the  swift  ships  food 
and  wine ;  for  thence  is  vigour  and  might.  For  no  man  fast- 
ing from  food  shall  be  able  to  fight  with  the  foe  all  day  till 
the  going  down  of  the  sun ;  for  though  his  spirit  be  eager  for 
battle,  yet  his  limbs  unaware  grow  weary,  and  thirst  beset- 
tetli  him,  and  hunger,  and  his  knees  in  his  going  fail.  But  the 
man  who  having  his  fill  of  food  and  wine  fighteth  thus  all  day 
against  the  enemy,  his  heart  is  of  good  cheer  within  him,  nor 
anywise  tire  his  limbs,  ere  all  give  back  from  the  battle.  So 
come,  disperse  the  host  and  bid  them  make  ready  their  meal. 
And  the  gifts  let  Agamemnon  king  of  men  bring  forth  into 
the  midst  of  the  assembly,  that  all  Achaians  may  behold  them 
with  their  eyes,  and  thou  be  glad  at  heart.  And  let  him  swear 
to  thee  an  oath,  standing  in  the  midst  of  the  Argives,  that  he 
hath  never  gone  up  into  the  damsel's  bed  or  lain  with  her,  O 
prince,  as  is  the  wont  of  man  with  woman ;  and  let  thine  own 
spirit  be  placable  within  thy  breast.  Then  let  him  make  thee 
a  rich  feast  of  reconcilement  in  his  hut,  that  thou  have  noth- 
ing lacking  of  thy  right.  And  thou,  son  of  Atreus,  toward 
others  also  shalt  be  more  righteous  hereafter ;  for  no  shame  it 
is  that  a  man  that  is  a  king  should  make  amends  if  he  have 
been  the  first  to  deal  violently." 

Then  to  him  spake  Agamemnon  king  of  men:  "Son  of 
Laertes,  I  rejoice  to  listen  to  thy  speech ;  for  rightfully  hast 
thou  told  over  all.  And  the  oath  I  am  willing  to  swear,  yea 
my  heart  biddeth  it,  nor  will  I  forswear  myself  before  God. 
Let  Achilles  abide  for  a  space,  eager  for  battle  though  he  be, 
and  all  ye  others  abide  together,  until  the  gifts  come  forth 
from  my  hut,  and  we  make  faithful  oath  with  sacrifice.  But 
thee  thyself  I  thus  charge  and  bid.  Choose  thee  young  men, 
princes  of  the  Achaian  folk,  and  bear  my  gifts  from  my  ship, 
even  all  that  we  promised  yesterday  to  Achilles,  and  take  with 
thee  the  women.  And  let  Talthybios  speedily  make  me  ready 
a  boar-swine  in  the  midst  of  the  wide  Achaian  host,  to  sac- 
rifice to  Zeus  and  to  the  Sun." 

And  to  him  in  answer  swift-footed  Achilles  spake:    "Most 


344  HOMER 

noble  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon  king  of  men,  at  some  other 
time  were  it  even  better  ye  should  be  busied  thus,  when  haply 
there  shall  be  some  pause  of  war,  and  the  spirit  within  my 
breast  shall  be  less  fierce.  But  now  they  lie  mangled  on  the 
field — even  they  whom  Hector  son  of  Priam  slew,  when  Zeus 
gave  him  glory — and  ye  call  men  to  their  food.  Verily  for 
my  part  I  would  bid  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  to  fight  now 
unfed  and  fasting,  and  with  the  setting  sun  make  ready  a 
mighty  meal,  when  we  shall  h^ve  avenged  the  shame.  Till 
then  down  my  throat  at  least  nor  food  nor  drink  shall  go,  since 
my  comrade  is  dead,  who  in  my  hut  is  lying  mangled  by  the 
sharp  spear,  with  his  feet  toward  the  door,  and  round  him 
our  comrades  mourn ;  wherefore  in  my  heart  is  no  thought 
of  those  matters,  but  of  slaying,  and  blood,  and  grievous 
moans  of  men." 

Then  answered  him  Odysseus  of  many  counsels:  "O 
Achilles,  Peleus'  son,  mightiest  of  Achaians  far,  better  and 
mightier  not  a  little  art  thou  than  I  with  the  spear,  but  in 
counsel  I  may  surpass  thee  greatly,  since  I  was  bom  first  and 
know  more  things :  wherefore  let  thy  heart  endure  to  listen  to 
my  speech.  Quickly  have  men  surfeit  of  battle,  of  that  where- 
in the  sword  streweth  most  straw  yet  is  the  harvest  scantiest,* 
when  Zeus  inclineth  his  balance,  who  is  disposer  of  the  wars 
of  men.  But  it  cannot  be  that  the  Achaians  fast  to  mourn  a 
corpse ;  for  exceeding  many  and  thick  fall  such  on  every  day ; 
when  then  should  there  be  rest  from  toil?  Nay,  it  behoveth 
to  bury  him  who  is  dead,  steeling  our  hearts,  when  once  we 
have  wept  him  for  a  day ;  but  such  as  are  left  alive  from  hate- 
ful war  must  take  thought  of  meat  and  drink,  that  yet  more 
against  our  foes  we  may  fight  relentlessly  ever,  clad  in  un- 
yielding bronze.  Then  let  none  of  the  host  hold  back  awaiting 
other  summons;  this  is  the  summons,  and  ill  shall  it  be  for 
whoso  is  left  behind  at  the  Argive  ships;  but  all  together  as 
one  we  will  rouse  against  the  horse-taming  Trojans  the  fury 
of  war." 

He  spoke,  and  took  with  him  the  sons  of  noble  Nestor,  and 


^  i.e.  in  a  pitched  battle  there  is  little  plunder,  the  hope  of  which 
might  help  to  sustain  men's  efforts  in  storming  a  town. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XIX  345 

Meges  son  of  Phyleus,  and  Thoas,  and  Meriones,  and  Lyko- 
medes  son  of  Kreiontes,  and  Melanippos.  And  they  went  on 
their  way  to  the  hut  of  Agamemnon,  Atreus'  son.  Forthwith 
as  the  word  was  spoken  so  was  the  deed  done.  Seven  tripods 
they  bare  from  the  hut,  as  he  promised  him,  and  twenty  bright 
caldrons,  and  twelve  horses,  and  anon  they  led  forth  women 
skilled  in  goodly  arts,  seven,  and  the  eighth  was  fair-faced 
Briseis.  Then  Odysseus,  having  weighed  ten  talents  of  gold 
in  all,  led  the  way,  and  with  him  young  men  of  the  Achaians 
bare  the  gifts.  These  they  set  in  the  midst  of  the  place  of 
assembly,  and  Agamemnon  rose  up,  and  beside  that  shepherd 
of  the  host  stood  Talthybios,  whose  voice  was  like  a  god's, 
and  held  a  boar  between  his  hands.  And  the  son  of  Atreus 
drawing  with  his  hands  his  knife,  which  ever  hung  beside  the 
mighty  scabbard  of  his  sword,  cut  off  the  first  hairs  from  the 
boar,  and  lifting  up  his  hands  he  prayed  to  Zeus,  and  all  the 
Argives  sat  silent  in  their  places,  duly  hearkening  to  the  king. 
And  he  prayed  aloud,  looking  up  to  the  wide  heaven:  "Be 
Zeus  before  all  witness,  highest  and  best  of  gods,  and  Earth, 
and  Sun,  and  Erinyes,  who  under  earth  take  vengeance  upon 
men,  whosoever  forsweareth  himself,  that  never  have  I  laid 
hand  on  the  damsel  Briseis,  neither  to  lie  with  her  nor  any- 
wise else,  but  she  has  abode  untouched  within  my  huts. 
And  if  aught  that  I  swear  be  false,  may  the  gods  give  me  all 
sorrows  manifold,  that  they  send  on  him  who  sinneth  against 
them  in  his  oath." 

He  said,  and  cut  the  boar's  throat  with  the  pitiless  knife. 
And  the  body  Talthybios  whirled  and  threw  into  the  great 
wash  of  the  hoary  sea,  to  be  the  food  of  fishes;  but  Achilles 
arose  up  and  spake  in  the  midst  of  the  warrior  Argives : 
"Father  Zeus,  sore  madness  dealest  thou  verily  to  men.  Never 
could  the  son  of  Atreus  have  stirred  the  soul  within  my  breast, 
nor  led  off  the  damsel  implacably  against  my  will,  had  not 
Zeus  willed  that  on  many  of  the  Achaians  death  should  come. 
But  now  go  forth  to  your  meal,  that  we  may  join  battle  there- 
upon." 

Thus  he  spake  and  dispersed  the  assembly  with  all  speed. 
The  rest  were  scattered  each  to  his  own  ship,  but  the  great- 
hearted Myrmidons  took  up  the  gifts,  and  bare  them  to  the 


346  HOMER 

ship  of  godlike  Achilles.  And  they  laid  them  in  the  huts 
and  set  the  women  there,  and  gallant  squires  drave  the  horses 
among  their  troop. 

But  Briseis  that  was  like  unto  golden  Aphrodite,  when 
she  beheld  Patroklos  mangled  by  the  keen  spear,  fell  about 
him  and  made  shrill  lament,  and  tore  with  her  hands  her  breast 
and  tender  neck,  and  beautiful  face.  And  she  spake  amid  her 
weeping,  that  woman  like  unto  goddesses:  "Patroklos,  dear- 
est to  my  hapless  heart,  alive  I  left  thee  when  I  left  this  hut, 
but  now,  O  prince  of  the  people,  I  am  come  back  to  find  thee 
dead;  thus  evil  ever  followeth  evil  in  my  lot.  My  husband, 
unto  whom  my  father  and  lady  mother  gave  me,  I  beheld 
before  our  city  mangled  with  the  keen  spear,  and  my  three 
brothers  whom  my  own  mother  bore,  my  near  and  dear,  who 
all  met  their  day  of  doom.  But  thou,  when  swift  Achilles  slew 
my  husband  and  wasted  godlike  Mynes'  city,  wouldst  ever 
that  I  should  not  even  weep,  and  saidest  that  thou  wouldst 
make  me  godlike  Achilles'  wedded  wife,  and  that  ye  would 
take  me  in  your  ships  to  Phthia  and  make  me  a  marriage  feast 
among  the  Myrmidons.  Therefore  with  all  my  soul  I  mourn 
thy  death,  for  thou  wert  ever  kind." 

Thus  spake  she  weeping,  and  thereon  the  women  wailed,  in 
semblance  for  Patroklos,  but  each  for  her  own  woe.  But 
round  Achilles  gathered  the  elders  of  the  Achaians,  praying 
him  that  he  would  eat;  but  he  denied  them  with  a  groan:  "I 
pray  you,  if  any  kind  comrade  will  hearken  to  me,  bid  me  not 
sate  my  heart  with  meat  and  drink,  since  terrible  grief  is 
come  upon  me.  Till  the  sun  go  down  I  will  abide,  and  endure 
continually  until  then." 

He  spoke,  and  his  speech  made  the  other  chiefs  depart, 
but  the  two  sons  of  Atreus  stayed,  and  noble  Odysseus,  and 
Nestor  and  Idomeneus  and  Phoinix,  ancient  knight,  soothing 
him  in  his  exceeding  sorrow,  but  he  could  no  whit  be  soothed 
until  he  had  entered  the  mouth  of  bloody  war.  And  bethink- 
ing him  he  sighed  very  heavily  and  spake  aloud:  "Thou  too, 
O  hapless,  dearest  of  my  friends,  thyself  wouldst  verily  of 
yore  set  forth  in  our  hut  with  ready  speed  a  savoury  meal, 
what  time  the  Achaians  hasted  to  wage  against  the  horse- 
taming  Trojans  dolorous  war.     But  now  thou  liest  mangled. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XIX  347 

and  my  heart  will  none  of  meat  and  drink,  that  stand  within, 
for  desire  of  thee.  Nought  worse  than  this  could  I  endure, 
not  though  I  should  hear  of  my  father's  death,  who  now  I 
ween  in  Phthia  is  shedding  big  tears  for  lack  of  a  son  so  dear, 
even  me  that  in  an  alien  land  for  sake  of  baleful  Helen  do 
battle  with  the  men  of  Troy;  nor  though  it  were  my  beloved 
son  who  is  reared  for  me  in  Skyros  (if  still  at  least  is  godlike 
Neoptolemos  alive).  For  hitherto  had  my  soul  within  me 
trusted  that  I  alone  should  perish  far  from  horse-pasturing 
Argos,  here  in  the  Trojan  land,  but  that  thou  shouldst  return 
to  Phthia,  so  that  thou  mightest  take  me  the  child  in  thy  swift 
black  ship  from  Skyros  and  show  him  everything — my  sub- 
stance and  servants,  and  high-roofed  mighty  hall.  For  Peleus 
I  ween  already  must  be  dead  and  gone,  or  else  in  feeble  life 
he  hath  sorrow  of  hateful  age,  and  of  waiting  ever  for  bitter 
news  of  me,  till  he  hear  that  I  am  dead." 

Thus  spake  he  weeping,  and  the  elders  mourned  with  him, 
bethinking  them  what  each  had  left  at  home.  And  when  the 
son  of  Kronos  beheld  them  sorrowing  he  pitied  them,  and 
forthwith  to  Athene  spake  he  winged  words:  "My  child, 
thou  hast  then  left  utterly  the  man  of  thy  heart.  Hath  Achilles 
then  no  longer  a  place  within  thy  thought?  He  before  the 
steep-prowed  ships  sits  mourning  his  dear  comrade;  the  rest 
are  gone  to  their  meal,  but  he  is  fasting  and  unfed.  But  go, 
distil  into  his  breast  nectar  and  pleasant  ambrosia,  that  no 
pains  of  hunger  come  on  him." 

Thus  saying  he  sped  forward  Athene  who  before  was  fain. 
And  she,  like  a  falcon  wide-winged  and  shrill-voiced,  hurled 
herself  forth  from  heaven  through  the  upper  air.  So  while  the 
Achaians  were  arming  presently  throughout  the  camp,  she  in 
Achilles'  breast  distilled  nectar  and  pleasant  ambrosia,  that 
grievous  hunger  might  not  assail  his  knees,  and  then  herself 
was  gone  to  the  firm  house  of  her  mighty  father.  Then 
the  Achaians  poured  forth  from  the  swift  ships.  As  when 
thick  snowflakes  flutter  down  from  Zeus,  chill  beneath  the 
blast  of  Boreas  born  in  the  upper  air,  so  thick  from  the  ships 
streamed  forth  bright  glittering  helms  and  bossy  shields, 
strong-plated  cuirasses  and  ashen  spears.  And  the  sheen 
thereof  went  up  to  heaven  and  all  the  earth  around  laughed 


348  HOMER 

in  the  flash  of  bronze,  and  there  went  a  sound  beneath  the 
feet  of  the  men,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  noble  Achilles  har- 
nessed him.  His  teeth  gnashed  together,  and  his  eyes  blazed 
as  it  were  the  flame  of  a  fire,  for  into  his  heart  was  intolerable 
anguish  entered  in.  Thus  wroth  against  the  men  of  Troy  he 
put  on  the  gift  of  the  god,  which  Hephaistos  wrought  him  by 
his  art.  First  on  his  legs  he  set  the  fair  greaves  fitted  with 
silver  ankle-pieces,  and  next  he  donned  the  cuirass  about  his 
breast.  Then  round  his  shoulders  he  slung  the  bronze  sword 
silver-studded ;  then  lastly  he  took  the  great  and  strong  shield, 
and  its  brightness  shone  afar  off  as  the  moon's.  Or  as  when 
over  the  sea  there  appeareth  to  sailors  the  brightness  of  a 
burning  fire,  and  it  burneth  on  high  among  the  mountains  in 
some  lonely  steading — sailors  whom  storm-blasts  bear  unwill- 
ing over  the  sea,  the  home  of  fishes,  afar  from  them  they 
love : — so  from  Achilles'  goodly  well-dight  shield  the  bright- 
ness thereof  shot  up  toward  heaven.  And  he  lifted  the  stout 
helmet  and  set  it  on  his  head,  and  like  a  star  it  shone,  the 
horse-hair  crested  helmet,  and  around  it  waved  plumes  of 
gold  that  Hephaistos  had  set  thick  about  the  crest.  Then 
noble  Achilles  proved  him  in  his  armour  to  know  whether  it 
fitted  unto  him,  and  whether  his  glorious  limbs  ran  free;  and 
it  became  to  him  as  it  were  wings,  and  buoyed  up  the  shepherd 
of  hosts. 

And  forth  from  its  stand  he  drew  his  father's  spear,  heavy 
and  great  and  strong :  that  spear  could  none  other  of  the  Acha- 
ians  wield,  but  Achilles  alone  awaited  to  wield  it,  the  Pelian 
ashen  spear  that  Cheiron  gave  to  his  father  dear,  from  a 
peak  of  Pel  ion,  to  be  the  death  of  warriors.  And  Automedon 
and  Alkimos  went  about  to  yoke  the  horses,  and  put  on  them 
fair  breast-straps,  and  bits  within  their  jaws,  and  stretched 
the  reins  behind  to  the  firm-built  chariot.  Then  Automedon 
took  the  bright  lash,  fitted  to  his  hand,  and  sprang  up  behind 
the  horses,  and  after  him  mounted  Achilles  armed,  eflfulgent  in 
his  armour  like  bright  Hyperion.  And  terribly  he  called  upon 
the  horses  of  his  sire :  "Xanthos  and  Balios,  famed  children 
of  Podarge,  in  other  sort  take  heed  to  bring  your  charioteer 
safe  back  to  the  Danaan  host,  when  we  have  done  with  battle, 
and  leave  him  not  as  ye  left  Patroklos  to  lie  there  dead." 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  349 

Then  the  horse  Xanthos  of  glancing  feet  made  answer 
unto  him  from  beneath  the  yoke; — and  he  bowed  with  his 
head,  and  all  his  mane  fell  from  the  yoke-cushion  beside  the 
yoke  and  touched  the  ground; — for  the  white-armed  goddess 
Hera  gave  him  speech:  "Yea  verily  for  this  hour,  dread 
Achilles,  we  will  still  bear  thee  safe,  yet  is  thy  death-day  nigh 
at  hand,  neither  shall  we  be  cause  thereof,  but  a  mighty  god, 
and  forceful  Fate.  For  not  through  sloth  or  heedlessness  of 
ours  did  the  men  of  Troy  from  Patroklos'  shoulders  strip  his 
arms,  but  the  best  of  the  gods,  whom  bright-haired  Leto  bore, 
slew  him  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  and  to  Hector  gave 
renown.  We  even  with  the  wind  of  Zephyr,  swiftest,  they 
say,  of  all  winds,  well  might  run;  nathless  to  thee  thyself  it  is 
appointed  to  be  slain  in  fight  by  a  god  and  by  a  man." 

Now  when  he  had  thus  spoken  the  Erinyes  stayed  his  voice. 
And  sore  troubled  did  fleet-footed  Achilles  answer  him: 
"Xanthos,  why  prophesiest  thou  my  death?  no  wise  behoveth 
it  thee.  Well  know  I  of  myself  that  it  is  appointed  me  to  per- 
ish here,  far  from  my  father  dear  and  mother;  howbeit  any- 
wise I  will  not  refrain  till  I  give  the  Trojans  surfeit  of  war." 

He  said,  and  with  a  cry  among  the  foremost  held  on  his 
wholc-hooved  steeds. 


BOOK  XX 

How  Achilles  made  havoc  among  the  men  of  Troy. 

So  by  the  beaked  ships  around  thee,  son  of  Peleus,  hungry 
for  war,  the  Achaians  armed ;  and  over  against  them  the  men 
of  Troy,  upon  the  high  ground  of  the  plain. 

But  Zeus  bade  Themis  call  the  gods  to  council  from  many- 
folded  Olympus'  brow;  and  she  ranged  all  about  and  bade 
them  to  the  house  of  Zeus.  There  was  no  River  came  not  up, 
save  only  Ocean,  nor  any  nymph,  of  all  that  haunt  fair  thick- 
ets and  springs  of  rivers  and  grassy  water-meadows.  And 
they  came  to  the  house  of  Zeus  who  gathereth  the  clouds,  and 


350  HOMER 

sat  them  down  in  the  polished  colonnades  which  Hephaistos  in 
the  cunning  of  his  heart  had  wrought  for  father  Zeus. 

Thus  gathered  they  within  the  doors  of  Zeus ;  nor  was  the 
Earthshaker  heedless  of  the  goddess'  call,  but  from  the  salt 
sea  came  up  after  the  rest,  and  set  him  in  the  midst,  and  in- 
quired concerning  the  purpose  of  Zeus:  "Wherefore,  O  Lord 
of  the  bright  lightning,  hast  thou  called  the  gods  again  to  coun- 
cil? Say,  ponderest  thou  somewhat  concerning  the  Trojans 
and  Achaians?  for  lo,  the  war  and  the  fighting  of  them  are 
kindled  very  nigh." 

And  Zeus,  who  gathereth  the  clouds  answered  him,  saying: 
"Thou  knowest,  O  Earthshaker,  the  purpose  within  my  breast, 
wherefor  I  gathered  you  hither;  even  in  their  perishing  have 
I  regard  unto  them.  But  for  me  I  will  abide  here,  sitting  with- 
in a  fold  of  Olympus,  where  I  will  gladden  my  heart  with  gaz- 
ing; but  go  all  ye  forth  that  ye  come  among  the  Trojans  and 
Achaians  and  succour  these  or  those,  howsoever  each  of  you 
hath  a  mind.  For  if  Achilles  alone  shall  fight  against  the  Tro- 
jans, not  even  a  little  while  shall  they  hold  back  the  son  of 
Peleus,  the  fleet  of  foot.  Nay,  but  even  aforetime  they  trem- 
bled when  they  looked  upon  him ;  now  therefore  that  his  wrath 
for  his  friend  is  waxen  terrible  I  fear  me  lest  he  overleap  the 
bound  of  fate,  and  storm  the  wall." 

Thus  spake  the  son  of  Kronos,  and  roused  unabating  war. 
For  on  this  side  and  on  that  the  gods  went  forth  to  war  to 
the  company  of  the  ships  went  Hera,  and  Pallas  Athene,  and 
Poseidon,  Earth-en  folder,  and  the  Helper  Hermes,  pre-emi- 
nent in  subtle  thoughts ;  and  with  these  went  Hephaistos  in  the 
greatness  of  his  strength,  halting,  but  his  shrunk  legs  moved 
nimbly  under  him:  but  to  the  Trojans  went  Ares  of  the  glanc- 
ing helm,  and  with  him  Phoebus  of  the  unshorn  hair,  and 
archer  Artemis,  and  Leto  and  Xanthos  and  laughter-loving 
Aphrodite. 

Now  for  so  long  as  gods  were  afar  from  mortal  men,  so 
long  waxed  the  Achaians  glorious,  for  that  Achilles  was  come 
forth  among  them,  and  his  long  ceasing  from  grim  battle  was 
at  an  end.  And  the  Trojans  were  smitten  with  sore  trembling 
in  the  limbs  of  every  one  of  them,  in  terror  when  they  beheld 
the  son  of  Peleus,  fleet  of  foot,  blazing  in  his  arms,  peer  of 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  351 

man-slaying  Ares.  But  when  among  the  mellay  of  men  the 
Olympians  were  come  down,  then  leapt  up  in  her  might  Strife, 
rouser  of  hosts,  then  sent  forth  Athene  a  cry,  now  standing  by 
the  hollowed  trench  without  the  wall,  and  now  on  the  echoing 
shores  she  shouted  aloud.  And  a  shout  uttered  Ares  against 
her,  terrible  as  the  blackness  of  the  storm,  now  from  the 
height  of  the  city  to  the  Trojans  calling  clear,  or  again  along 
Simois  shore  over  Kallikolone  he  sped. 

So  urged  the  blessed  gods  both  hosts  to  battle,  then  them- 
selves burst  into  fierce  war.  And  terribly  thundered  the  father 
of  gods  and  men  from  heaven  above ;  and  from  beneath  Posei- 
don made  the  vast  earth  shake  and  the  steep  mountain  tops: 
Then  trembled  all  the  spurs  of  many-fountained  Ida,  and  all 
her  crests,  and  the  city  of  the  Trojans,  and  the  ships  of  the 
Achaians.  And  the  Lord  of  the  Underworld,  Aidoneus,  had 
terror  in  hell,  and  leapt  from  his  throne  in  that  terror  and  cried 
aloud,  lest  the  world  be  cloven  above  him  by  Poseidon,  Shaker 
of  earth,  and  his  dwelling-place  be  laid  bare  to  mortals  and  im- 
mortals— grim  halls,  and  vast,  and  lothly  to  the  gods.  So  loud 
the  roar  rose  of  that  battle  of  gods.  For  against  King  Posei- 
don stood  Phoebus  Apollo  with  his  winged  arrows,  and  against 
Enyalios  stood  Athene,  bright-eyed  goddess,  and  against  Hera 
she  of  the  golden  shafts  and  echoing  chase,  even  archer  Arte- 
mis, sister  of  the  Far-darter;  and  against  Leto  the  strong 
Helper  Hermes,  and  against  Hephaistos  the  great  deep-eddying 
River,  whom  gods  call  Xanthos  and  men  Skamandros. 

Thus  gods  with  gods  were  matched.  Meanwhile  Achilles 
yearned  above  all  to  meet  Hector,  son  of  Priam,  in  the  fray; 
for  with  that  blood  chiefliest  his  spirit  bade  him  sate  Ares,  stub- 
born lord  of  war.  But  straightway  Apollo,  rouser  of  hosts, 
moved  Aineias  to  go  to  meet  the  son  of  Peleus,  and  filled  him 
with  brave  spirit :  and  he  made  his  own  voice  like  the  voice  of 
Lykaon  the  son  of  Priam;  in  his  semblance  spake  Apollo,  son 
of  Zeus:  "Aineias,  counsellor  of  Trojans,  where  now  are  thy 
threats  wherewith  thou  didst  boast  to  the  Trojan  lords  over  thy 
wine,  saying  thou  wouldest  stand  up  in  battle  against  Achilles, 
Peleus'  son?" 

And  to  him  Aineias  answered  and  said:  "Son  of  Priam, 
why  biddest  thou  me  thus  face  the  fierce  son  of  Peleus  in  bat- 


352  HOMER 

tie,  though  I  be  not  fain  thereto  ?  Not  for  the  first  time  now 
shall  I  match  me  with  Achilles,  fleet  of  foot ;  once  before  drave 
he  me  with  his  spear  from  Ida,  when  he  harried  our  kine  and 
wasted  Lyrnessos  and  Pedasos;  but  Zeus  delivered  me  out  of 
his  hand  and  put  strength  into  my  knees  that  they  were  swift. 
Else  had  I  fallen  beneath  the  hands  of  Achilles,  and  of  Athene 
who  went  before  and  gave  him  light,  and  urged  him  to  slay 
Leleges  and  Trojans  with  his  spear  of  bronze.  Therefore  it  is 
impossible  for  man  to  face  Achilles  in  fight,  for  that  ever  some 
god  is  at  his  side  to  ward  off  death.  Ay,  and  at  any  time  his 
spear  flieth  straight,  neither  ceaseth  till  it  have  pierced  through 
flesh  of  man.  But  if  God  once  give  us  fair  field  of  battle,  not 
lightly  shall  he  overcome  me,  not  though  he  boast  him  made  of 
bronze  throughout." 

And  to  him  in  answer  spake  Apollo  son  of  Zeus :  "  Yea, 
hero,  pray  thou  too  to  the  everliving  gods ;  for  thou  too,  men 
say,  wast  born  of  Aphrodite  daughter  of  Zeus,  and  Achilles' 
mother  is  of  less  degree  among  the  gods.  For  thy  mother  is 
child  of  Zeus,  his  but  of  the  Ancient  One  of  the  Sea.  Come, 
bear  up  thy  unwearying  spear  against  him,  let  him  no  wise  turn 
thee  back  with  revilings  and  bitter  words." 

He  said,  and  breathed  high  spirit  into  the  shepherd  of  the 
host,  and  he  went  onward  through  the  forefront  of  the  fighting, 
harnessed  in  flashing  bronze.  But  white-armed  Hera  failed 
not  to  discern  Anchises'  son  as  he  went  through  the  press  of 
men  to  meet  the  son  of  Peleus,  and  gathering  the  gods  about 
her  she  spake  among  them  thus :  "Consider  ye  twain,  Poseidon 
and  Athene,  within  your  hearts,  what  shall  come  of  these  things 
that  are  done.  Here  is  Aineias  gone  forth  harnessed  in  flash- 
ing bronze,  to  meet  the  son  of  Peleus,  and  it  is  Phoebus  Apollo 
that  hath  sent  him.  Come  then,  be  it  ours  to  turn  him  back 
straightway;  or  else  let  some  one  of  us  stand  likewise  beside 
Achilles  and  give  him  mighty  power,  so  that  he  fail  not  in  his 
spirit,  but  know  that  they  who  love  him  are  the  best  of  the  Im- 
mortals, and  that  they  who  from  of  old  ward  war  and  fighting 
from  the  Trojans  are  vain  as  wind.  All  we  from  Olympus 
are  come  down  to  mingle  in  this  fight  that  he  take  no  hurt 
among  the  Trojans  on  this  day — afterward  he  shall  suffer 
whatsoever  things  Fate  span  for  him  with  her  thread,  at  his 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  353 

beginning,  when  his  mother  bare  him.  If  Achilles  learn  not 
this  from  voice  divine,  then  shall  he  be  afraid  when  some  god 
shall  come  against  him  in  the  battle;  for  gods  revealed  are 
hard  to  look  upon." 

Then  to  her  made  answer  Poseidon,  Shaker  of  the  earth: 
"Hera,  be  not  fierce  beyond  wisdom ;  it  behoveth  thee  not.  Not 
fain  am  I  at  least  to  match  gods  with  gods  in  strife.  Let  us  go 
now  into  some  high  place  apart  and  seat  us  there  to  watch,  and 
battle  shall  be  left  to  men.  Only  if  Ares  or  Phoebus  Apollo 
fall  to  fighting,  or  put  constraint  upon  Achilles  and  hinder  him 
from  fight,  then  straightway  among  us  too  shall  go  up  the 
battle-cry  of  strife;  right  soon,  methinks,  shall  they  hie  them 
from  the  issue  of  the  fray  back  to  Olympus  to  the  company  of 
the  gods,  overcome  by  the  force  of  our  hands." 

Thus  spake  the  blue-haired  god,  and  led  the  way  to  the 
mounded  wall  of  heaven-sprung  Herakles,  that  lofty  wall  built 
him  by  the  Trojans  and  Pallas  Athene,  that  he  might  escape  the 
monster  and  be  safe  from  him,  what  time  he  should  make  his 
onset  from  the  beach  to  the  plain. ^  There  sate  them  down  Po- 
seidon and  the  other  gods,  and  clothed  their  shoulders  with  im- 
penetrable cloud.  And  they  of  the  other  part  sat  down  on  the 
brows  of  Kallikolone  around  thee.  Archer  Phoebus,  and  Ares 
waster  of  cities.    Thus  they  on  either  side  sat  devising  coun- 


^  Poseidon  and  Apollo,  having  been  commanded  by  Zeus  to  serve 
Laomedon  king  of  Troy  for  hire,  builded  him  a  wall  for  a  certain 
reward,  but  Laomedon  brake  the  oaths  and  the  covenant,  and  drave 
them  away  without  their  wage.  Whereon  Poseidon,  being  wroth, 
sent  a  sea-beast  against  the  land,  and  the  people  perished,  and  the 
fruits.  So  Laomedon  sought  to  the  oracle,  that  bade  him  sacrifice 
his  daughter,  Hesione,  to  the  monster,  wherefore  he  exposed  her, 
but  offered  a  reward,  namely  the  immortal  horses  of  Zeus,  to  him 
that  would  slay  the  thing.  So  Herakles  was  fain  to  achieve  this 
adventure,  and  Athena  builded  him  a  wall,  whence  he  might  sally 
out  against  the  sea-beast.  Then  Herakles  leaped  down  the  mouth 
and  into  the  belly  of  the  beast,  and  tore  its  flanks,  and  so  it  died. 
But  Laomedon  gave  none  but  mortal  steeds  to  Herakles,  who,  in 
his  wrath,  destroyed  Ilios  utterly,  and  seized  the  horses.  The  story 
is  in  Hellanikos,  a  Greek  chronicler  of  the  Fifth  Century  before 
Christ. 


354  HOMER 

sels,  but  shrank  all  from  falling  to  grievous  war,  and  Zeus  from 
his  high  seat  commanded  them. 

Meanwhile  the  whole  plain  was  filled  with  men  and  horses, 
and  ablaze  with  bronze ;  and  the  earth  rang  with  the  feet  b'f 
them  as  they  rushed  together  in  the  fray.  Two  men  far  better 
than  the  rest  were  meeting  in  the  midst  between  the  hosts, 
eager  for  battle,  Aineias,  Anchises'  son,  and  noble  Achilles. 
First  came  on  Aineias  threateningly,  tossing  his  strong  helm; 
his  rapid  shield  he  held  before  his  breast,  and  brandished  his 
bronze  spear.  And  on  the  other  side  the  son  of  Peleus  rushed 
to  meet  him,  like  a  lion,  a  ravaging  lion  whom  men  desire  to 
slay,  a  whole  tribe  assembled :  and  first  he  goeth  his  way  un- 
heeding, but  when  some  warrior  youth  hath  smitten  him  with 
a  spear,  then  he  gathereth  himself  open-mouthed,  and  foam 
cometh  forth  about  his  teeth,  and  his  stout  spirit  groaneth  in 
his  heart,  and  with  his  tail  he  scourgeth  either  side  his  ribs  and 
flanks  and  goadeth  himself  on  to  fight,  and  glaring  is  borne 
straight  on  them  by  his  passion,  to  try  whether  he  shall  slay 
some  man  of  them,  or  whether  himself  shall  perish  in  the  fore- 
front of  the  throng:  thus  was  Achilles  driven  of  his  passion 
and  valiant  spirit  to  go  forth  to  meet  Aineias  great  of  heart. 
And  when  they  were  come  near  against  each  other,  then  first  to 
Aineias  spake  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles :  "Aineias,  wherefore 
hast  thou  so  far  come  forward  from  the  crowd  to  stand  against 
me :  doth  thy  heart  bid  thee  fight  with  me  in  hope  of  holding 
Priam's  honour  and  lordship  among  the  horse-taming  Trojans? 
Nay,  though  thou  slay  me,  not  for  that  will  Priam  lay  his  king- 
dom in  thy  hands,  for  he  hath  sons,  and  is  sound  and  of  un- 
shaken mind.  Or  have  the  Trojans  allotted  thee  some  lot  of 
ground  more  choice  than  all  the  rest,  fair  land  of  tilth  and  or- 
chard, that  thou  mayest  dwell  therein,  if  thou  slay  me?  But 
methinks  thou  wilt  find  the  slaying  hard;  for  once  before.  I 
ween,  have  I  made  thee  flee  before  my  spear.  Hast  thou  for- 
gotten the  day  when  thou  wert  alone  with  the  kine,  and  I  made 
thee  run  swift-footed  down  Ida's  steeps  in  haste? — then  didst 
thou  not  look  behind  thee  in  thy  flight.  Thence  fleddest  thou 
to  Lernessos,  but  I  wasted  it,  having  fought  against  it  with  the 
help  of  Athene  and  of  father  Zeus,  and  carried  away  women 
captive,  bereaving  them  of  their  day  of  freedom:  only  thee 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  355 

Zeus  shielded,  and  other  gods.  But  not  this  time,  methinks^ 
shall  they  shield  thee,  as  thou  imaginest  in  thy  heart :  therefore 
I  bid  thee  go  back  into  the  throng  and  come  not  forth  against 
me,  while  as  yet  thou  art  unhurt — after  the  event  even  a  fool 
is  wise." 

Then  to  him  in  answer  again  Aineias  spake:  "Son  of  Pe- 
leus,  think  not  with  words  to  affright  me  as  a  child,  since  I  too 
well  know  myself  how  to  speak  taunts  and  unjust  speech.  We 
know  each  other's  race  and  lineage  in  that  we  have  heard  the 
fame  proclaimed  by  mortal  men,  but  never  hast  thou  set  eyes  on 
my  parents,  or  I  on  thine.  Thou,  they  say,  art  son  of  noble  Pe- 
leus,  and  of  Thetis  of  the  fair  tresses,  the  daughter  of  the  sea: 
the  sire  I  boast  is  Anchises  great  of  heart,  and  my  mother  is 
Aphrodite.  Of  these  shall  one  pair  or  the  other  mourn  their 
dear  son  to-day;  for  verily  not  with  idle  words  shall  we  two 
satisfy  our  strife  and  depart  out  of  the  battle.  But,  if  thou  wilt, 
learn  also  this,  that  thou  mayest  well  know  our  lineage,  known 
to  full  many  men :  First  Zeus  the  cloud-gatherer  begat  Darda- 
nos,  and  he  stablished  Dardania,  for  ndt  yet  was  holy  Ilios 
built  upon  the  plain  to  be  a  city  of  mortal  men,  but  still  they 
dwelt  on  slopes  of  many-fountained  Ida.  Then  Dardanos  be- 
gat a  son,  king  Erichthonios,  who  became  richest  of  mortal 
men.  Three  thousand  mares  had  he  that  pastured  along  the 
marsh  meadow,  rejoicing  in  their  tender  foals.  Of  them  was 
Boreas  enamoured  as  they  grazed,  and  in  semblance  of  a  dark- 
maned  horse  he  covered  them :  then  they  having  conceived  bare 
twelve  fillies.  These  when  they  bounded  over  Earth  the  grain- 
giver  would  run  upon  the  topmost  ripened  ears  of  corn  and 
break  them  not ;  and  when  they  bounded  over  the  broad  backs 
of  the  sea  they  would  run  upon  the  crests  of  the  breal^rs  of 
the  hoary  brine.  Then  Erichthonios  begat  Tros  to  be  lor(>over 
the  Trojans,  and  to  Tros  three  noble  sons  were  born,  Ilos  and 
Assarakos  and  godlike  Ganymedes,  who  became  the  most  beau- 
tiful of  mortal  men.  Him  the  gods  caught  up  to  be  cupbearer 
to  Zeus,  for  sake  of  his  beauty,  that  he  might  dwell  among  im- 
mortals. Then  Ilos  again  begat  a  son,  noble  Laomedon,  and 
Laomedon  begat  Tithonos  and  Priam  and  Lampos  and  Klytios 
and  Hiketaon,  of  the  stock  of  Ares.     And  Assarakos  begat 


356  HOMER 

Kapys,  and  Kapys  Anchises,  and  Anchises  me ;  but  Priam  begat 
the  goodly  Hector. 

"Lo  then  of  this  blood  and  lineage  declare  I  myself  unto 
thee.  But  for  valour,  Zeus  increaseth  it  in  men  or  minisheth 
it  according  as  he  will,  for  he  is  lord  of  all.  But  come,  let  us 
talk  thus  together  no  longer  like  children,  standing  in  mid  onset 
of  war.  For  there  are  revilings  in  plenty  for  both  of  us  to  utter 
— a  hundred-thwarted  ship  would  not  suffice  for  the  load  of 
them.  Glib  is  the  tongue  of  man,  and  many  words  are  therein 
of  every  kind,  and  wide  is  the  range  of  his  speech  hither  and- 
thither.  Whatsoever  word  thou  speak,  such  wilt  thou  hear  in 
answer.  But  what  need  that  we  should  bandy  strife  and 
wrangling  each  against  each,  like  women,  who  when  they  wax 
wroth  for  some  heart-wasting  quarrel  go  forth  into  the  mid 
street  and  wrangle  each  against  each  with  words  true  and  false ; 
for  these  too  anger  bids  them  speak.  But  not  by  speech  shalt 
thou  turn  me  from  the  battle  that  I  desire,  until  we  have  fought 
together,  point  to  point:  come  then,  and  straightway  we  will 
each  try  the  other  with  bronze-headed  spears." 

He  said,  and  against  that  other's  dread  and  mighty  shield 
hurled  his  great  spear,  and  the  shield  rang  loud  beneath  the 
spear-point.  And  the  son  of  Peleus  held,  away  the  shield  from 
him  with  his  stout  hand,  in  fear,  for  he  thought  that  the  far- 
shadowing  spear  of  Aineias  great  of  heart  would  lightly  pierce 
it  through — fond  man,  and  knew  not  in  his  mind  and  heart 
that  not  lightly  do  the  glorious  gifts  of  gods  yield  to  force  of 
mortal  men.  So  did  not  the  great  spear  of  wise  Aineias  pierce 
that  shield,  for  the  gold  resisted  it,  even  the  gift  of  the  god. 
Yet  through  two  folds  he  drave  it,  but  three  remained,  for  five 
folds  had  the  lame  god  welded,  two  bronze,  and  two  inside  of 
tin,  and  one  of  gold ;  therein  was  stayed  the  ashen  spear. 

Then  Achilles  in  his  turn  hurled  his  far-shadowing  spear, 
and  smote  upon  the  circle  of  the  shield  of  Aineias,  beneath  the 
edge  of  the  rim,  where  the  bronze  ran  thinnest  round,  and  the 
bull-hide  was  thinnest  thereon;  and  right  through  sped  the 
Pelian  ashen  spear,  and  the  shield  cracked  under  it.  And 
Aineias  crouched  and  held  up  the  shield  away  from  him  in 
dread ;  and  the  spear  flew  over  his  back  and  fixed  itself  in  the 
earth,  having  divided  asunder  the  two  circles  of  the  sheltering 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  357 

shield.  And  having  escaped  the  long  spear  he  stood  still,  and 
a  vast  anguish  drowned  his  eyes,  affrighted  that  the  spear  was 
planted  by  him  so  nigh.  But  Achilles  drew  his  sharp  sword 
and  furiously  made  at  him,  crying  his  terrible  cry :  then  Aineias 
grasped  in  his  hand  a  stone  (a  mighty  deed)  such  as  two  men, 
as  men  now  are,  would  not  avail  to  lift,  but  he  with  ease  wield- 
ed it  all  alone.  Then  would  Aineias  have  smitten  him  with  the 
stone  as  he  charged,  either  on  helm  or  shield,  which  had  warded 
from  him  bitter  death,  and  then  would  the  son  of  Peleus  have 
closed  and  slain  him  with  his  sword  had  not  Poseidon,  Shaker 
of  earth,  marked  it  with  speed,  and  straightway  spoken  among 
the  immortal  gods :  "Alas,  woe  is  me  for  Aineias  great  of  heart, 
who  quickly  will  go  down  to  Hades  slain  by  the  son  of  Peleus, 
for  that  he  will  obey  the  words  of  Apollo  the  far-darter,  fond 
man,  but  nowise  shall  the  god  help  him  from  grievous  death. 
But  wherefore  now  is  he  to  suffer  ill  in  his  innocence,  cause- 
lessly for  the  wickedness  of  others,  yet  welcome  are  his  of- 
ferings to  the  gods  who  inhabit  the  spacious  heaven?  Come,  let 
us  guide  him  out  of  death's  way,  lest  the  son  of  Kronos  be 
wroth,  if  Achilles  slay  him ;  for  it  is  appointed  to  him  to  escape, 
that  the  race  of  Dardanos  perish  not  without  seed  or  sign,  even 
Dardanos  whom  the  son  of  Kronos  loved  above  all  the  children 
born  to  him  from  the  daughters  of  men.  For  the  race  of 
Priam  hath  Zeus  already  hated.  But  thus  shall  the  might  of 
Aineias  reign  among  the  Trojans,  and  his  children's  children, 
who  shall  be  born  in  the  aftertime." 

And  him  then  answered  Hera  the  ox-eyed  queen :  "Shaker 
of  earth,  thyself  with  thine  own  mind  take  counsel,  whether 
thou  wilt  save  Aineias,  or  leave  him  to  be  slain,  brave  though 
he  be,  by  Achilles,  Peleus'  son.  For  by  many  oaths  among  all 
the  Immortals  have  we  two  sworn,  even  Pallas  Athene  and  I, 
never  to  help  the  Trojans  from  their  evil  day,  not  even  when 
all  Troy  shall  burn  in  the  burning  of  fierce  fire,  and  they  that 
burn  her  shall  be  the  warlike  sons  of  the  Achaians." 

Now  when  Poseidon  Shaker  of  earth  heard  that,  he  went 
up  amid  the  battle  and  the  clash  of  spears,  and  came  where 
Aineias  and  renowned  Achilles  were.  Then  presently  he  shed 
mist  over  the  eyes  of  Achilles,  Peleus'  son,  and  drew  the  bronze- 
headed  ashen  spear  from  the  shield  of  Aineias  great  of  heart, 


358  HOMER 

and  set  it  before  Achilles'  feet,  and  lifted  Aineias  and  swung 
him  high  from  off  the  earth.  Over  many  ranks  of  warriors,  of 
horses  many,  sprang  Aineias  soaring  in  the  hand  of  the  god,  and 
lighted  at  the  farthest  verge  of  the  battle  of  many  opsets,  where 
the  Kaukones  were  arraying  them  for  the  fight.  Then  hard  be- 
side him  came  Poseidon,  Shaker  of  earth,  and  spake  aloud  to 
him  winged  words :  "Aineias,  what  god  is  it  that  biddeth  thee 
fight  infatuate  against  Peleus'  vehement  son,  who  is  both  a  bet- 
ter man  than  thou  and  dearer  to  Immortals  ?  Rather  withdraw 
thee  whensoever  thou  fallest  in  with  him,  lest  even  contrary  to 
thy  fate  thou  enter  the  house  of  Hades.  But  when  Achilles 
shall  have  met  his  death  and  doom,  then  be  thou  of  good 
courage  to  fight  among  the  foremost,  for  there  shall  none 
other  of  the  Achaians  slay  thee." 

He  spoke,  and  left  him  there,  when  he  had  shown  him  all 
these  things.  Then  quickly  from  Achilles'  eyes  he  purged  the 
magic  mist ;  and  he  stared  with  wide  eyes,  and  in  trouble  spake 
unto  his  proud  soul :  "Ha !  verily  a  great  marvel  behold  I  here 
with  mine  eyes.  My  spear  lieth  here  upon  the  ground,  nor  can 
I  anywise  see  the  man  at  whom  I  hurled  it  with  intent  to  slay 
him.  Truly  then  is  Aineias  likewise  dear  to  the  immortal  gods, 
howbeit  I  deemed  that  his  boasting  thereof  was  altogether  van- 
ity. Away  with  him !  not  again  will  he  find  heart  to  make  trial 
of  me,  now  that  once  more  he  has  escaped  death  to  his  joy.  But 
come,  I  will  call  on  the  warlike  Danaans  and  go  forth  to  make 
trial  of  some  other  Trojan  face  to  face." 

He  said,  and  leapt  along  the  lines,  and  called  upon  each 
man :  "No  longer  stand  afar  from  the  men  of  Troy,  noble 
Achaians,  but  come  let  man  match  man  and  throw  his  soul  into 
the  fight.  Hard  is  it  for  me,  though  I  be  strong,  to  assail  so 
vast  a  folk  and  fight  them  all :  not  even  Ares,  though  an  im- 
mortal god,  nor  Athene,  could  plunge  into  the  jaws  of  such  a 
fray  and  toil  therein.  But  to  my  utmost  power  with  hands  and 
feet  and  strength  no  whit,  I  say,  will  I  be  slack,  nay,  never  so 
little,  but  right  through  their  line  will  I  go  forward,  nor  deem 
I  that  any  Trojan  shall  be  glad  who  shall  come  nigh  my  spear." 

Thus  spake  he  urging  them.  But  to  the  Trojans  glorious 
Hector  called  aloud,  and  proclaimed  that  he  would  go  forth 
against  Achilles:       "High-hearted  Trojans,  fear  not  Peleus' 


•   THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  359 

son.  I  too  in  words  could  fight  even  Immortals,  but  with  the 
spear  it  were  hard,  for  they  are  stronger  far.  Neither  shall 
Achilles  accomplish  all  his  talk,  but  part  thereof  he  is  to  accom- 
plish, and  part  to  break  asunder  in  the  midst.  And  against 
him  will  I  go  forth,  though  the  hands  of  him  be  even  as  fire,  yea 
though  his  hands  be  as  fire  and  his  fierceness  as  the  flashing 
steel." 

Thus  spake  he  urging  them,  and  the  Trojans  raised  their 
spears  for  battle ;  and  their  fierceness  was  mingled  confusedly, 
and  the  battle-cry  arose.  Then  Phoebus  Apollo  stood  by  Hec- 
tor and  spake  to  him :  "Hector,  no  longer  challenge  Achilles 
at  all  before  the  lines,  but  in  the  throng  await  him  and  from 
amid  the  roar  of  the  battle,  lest  haply  he  spear  thee  or  come 
near  and  smite  thee  with  his  sword." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Hector  again  fell  back  into  the  crowd 
of  men,  for  he  was  amazed  when  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  god's 
voice. 

But  Achilles  sprang  in  among  the  Trojans,  his  heart  clothed 
with  strength,  crying  his  terrible  cry,  and  first  he  took  Iphition, 
Otrynteus'  valiant  son,  a  leader  of  much  people,  born  of  a 
Naiad  nymph  to  Otr-ynteus  waster  of  cities,  beneath  snowy  ^ 
Tmolos,  in  Hyde's  rich  domain.  Him  as  he  came  right  on  did 
goodly  Achilles  smite  with  his  hurled  spear,  down  through  the 
midst  of  his  head,  and  it  was  rent  asunder  utterly.  And  he  fell 
with  a  crash,  and  goodly  Achilles  exulted  over  him:  "Low 
liest  thou,  O  sen  of  Otrynteus,  most  redoubtable  of  men; 
here  is  thy  death,  thy  birth  was  on  the  Gygaian  lake,  where 
is  thy  sire's  demesne,  by  Hyllos  rich  in  fish  and  by  eddying  the 
Hermos." 

Thus  spake  he  exultant,  but  darkness  fell  upon  the  eyes 
of  Iphition :  him  the  chariots  of  the  Achaians  clave  with  their 
tires  asunder  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  and  over  him  Achil- 
les pierced  in  the  temples,  through  his  bronze-cheeked  helmet, 
Demoleon,  brave  stemmer  of  battle,  Antenor's  son.  No  stop 
made  the  bronze  helmet,  but  therethrough  sped  the  spear-head 
and  clave  the  bone,  and  the  brain  within  was  all  scattered :  that 
stroke  made  ending  of  his  zeal.  Then  Hippodamas,  as  he  leapt 
from  his  chariot  and  fled  before  him,  Achilles  wounded  in  the 
back  with  his  spear:  and  he  breathed  forth  his  spirit  with  a 


360  HOMER 

roar,  as  when  a  dragged  bull  roareth  that  the  young  men  drag 
to  the  altar  of  the  Lord  of  Helike;  for  in  such  hath  the  Earth- 
shake*-  his  delight :  thus  roared  Hippodamas  as  from  his  bones 
fled  forth  his  haughty  spirit.  But  Achilles  with  his  spear  went 
on  after  godlike  Polydoros,  Priam's  son.  Him  would  his  sire 
continually  forbid  to  fight,  for  that  among  his  children  he  was 
youngest  born  and  best  beloved,  and  overcame  all  in  fleetness  of 
foot.  Just  then  in  boyish  folly,  displaying  the  swiftness  of  his 
feet,  he  was  rushing  through  the  forefighters,  until  he  lost  his 
life.  Him  in  the  midst  did  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  smite 
with  a  javelin,  in  his  back  as  he  darted  by,  where  his  belt's 
golden  buckles  clasped,  and  the  breast  and  back  plates  over- 
lapped :  and  right  through  beside  the  naval  went  the  spear-head, 
and  he  fell  on  his  knee  with  a  cry,  and  dark  cloud  covered  him 
round  about,  and  he  clasped  his  bowels  to  him  with  his  hands  as 
he  sank. 

Then  when  Hector  saw  his  brother  Polydoros  clasping  his 
bowels  with  his  hands,  and  sinking  to  the  earth,  a  mist  fell  over 
his  eyes,  nor  longer  might  he  endure  to  range  so  far  apart,  but 
he  came  up  against  Achilles  brandishing  his  sharp  spear,  and 
like  a  flame  of  fire.  And  Achilles  when  he  saw  him,  sprang  up, 
and  spake  exultingly:  "Behold  the  man  who  hath  deepest 
stricken  into  my  soul,  who  slew  my  dear-prized  friend ;  not  long 
shall  we  now  shrink  from  each  other  along  the  highways  of  the 
war." 

He  said,  and  looking  grimly  spake  unto  goodly  Hector: 
"Come  thou  near,  that  the  sooner  thou  mayest  arrive  at  the  goal 
of  death." 

Then  to  him,  unterrified,  said  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm : 
"Son  of  Peleus,  think  not  with  words  to  affright  me  as  a  child, 
since  I  too  know  myself  how  to  speak  taunts  and  unjust  speech. 
And  I  know  that  thou  art  a  man  of  might,  and  a  far  better  man 
than  I.  Yet  doth  this  issue  He  in  the  lap  of  the  gods,  whether 
I  though  weaker  shall  take  thy  life  with  my  hurled  spear,  for 
mine  too  hath  been  found  keen  ere  now." 

He  said,  and  poised  his  spear  and  hurled  it,  and  Athene  with 
a  breath  turned  it  back  from  glorious  Achilles,  breathing  very 
lightly ;  and  it  came  back  to  goodly  Hector,  and  fell  there  before 
his  feet.     Then  Achilles  set  fiercely  upon  him,  eager  to  slay 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XX  361 

him,  crying  his  terrible  cry.  But  Apollo  caught  Hector  up, 
very  easily,  as  a  god  may,  and  hid  him  in  thick  mist.  Thrice 
then  did  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  make  onset  with  his  spear  of 
bronze,  and  thrice  smote  the  thick  mist.  But  when  the  fourth 
time  he  had  come  godlike  on,  then  with  dread  shout  he  spake  to 
him  winged  words :  "Dog,  thou  art  now  again  escaped  from 
death;  yet  came  ill  very  nigh  thee;  but  now  hath  Phoebus 
Apollo  saved  thee,  to  whom  thou  must  surely  pray  when  thou 
goest  forth  amid  the  clash  of  spears.  Verily  I  will  slay  thee 
yet  when  I  meet  thee  hereafter,  if  any  god  is  helper  of  me  too. 
Now  will  I  make  after  the  rest,  whomsoever  I  may  seize." 

Thus  speaking  he  pierced  Dryops  in  the  midst  of  his  neck 
with  his  spear,  and  he  fell  down  before  his  feet.  But  he  left 
him  where  he  lay,  and  hurled  at  Demuchos  Philetor's  son,  a 
good  man  and  a  tall,  and  stayed  him  with  a  stroke  upon  his 
knees;  then  smote  him  with  his  mighty  sword  and  reft  him  of 
life.  Then  springing  on  Laogonos  and  Dardanos,  sons  of 
Bias,  he  thrust  both  from  their  chariot  to  the  ground,  one  with 
a  spear-cast  smiting  and  the  other  in  close  battle  with  his  sword. 
Then  Tros,  Alastor's  son — he  came  and  clasped  his  knees  to 
pray  him  to  spare  him,  and  let  him  go  alive,  and  slay  him  not, 
having  compassion  on  his  like  age,  fond  fool,  and  knew  not  that 
he  might  not  gain  his  prayers ;  for  nowise  soft  of  heart  or  ten- 
der was  that  man,  but  of  fierce  mood — with  his  hands  he 
touched  Achilles'  knees,  eager  to  entreat  him,  but  he  smote  him 
in  the  liver  with  his  sword,  and  his  liver  fell  from  him,  and 
black  blood  therefrom  filled  his  bosom,  and  he  swooned,  and 
darkness  covered  his  eyes.  Then  Achilles  came  near  and  struck 
Mulios  in  the  ear,  and  right  through  the  other  ear  went  the 
bronze  spear-head.  Then  he  smote' Agenor's  son  Echeklos  on 
the  midst  of  the  head  with  his  hiked  sword,  and  all  the  sword 
grew  hot  thereat  with  blood;  and  dark  death  seized  his  eyes, 
and  forceful  fate.  Then  next  Deukalion,  just  where  the  sin- 
ews of  the  elbow  join,  there  pierced  he  him  through  the  fore- 
arm with  his  bronze  spear-head;  so  abode  he  with  his  arm 
weighed  down,  beholding  death  before  him;  and  Achilles  smit- 
ing the  neck  with  his  sword  swept  far  both  head  and  helm,  and 
the  marrow  rose  out  of  the  backbone,  and  the  corpse  lay 
stretched  upon  the  earth.     Then  went  he  onward  after  Peires' 


362  HOMER 

nobl*'.  son,  Rhigmos,  who  had  come  from  deep-soiled  Thrace : 
him  in  the  midst  he  smote  with  his  hurled  javelin,  and  the  point 
fixed  in  his  lung,  and  he  fell  forth  of  his  chariot.  And  Arei- 
thoos  his  squire,  as  he  turned  the  horses  round,  he  pierced  in 
the  back  with  his  sharp  spear,  and  thrust  him  from  the  car,  and 
the  horses  ran  wild  with  fear. 

As  through  deep  glens  rageth  fierce  fire  on  some  parched 
mountain-side,  and  the  deep  forest  burnetii,  and  the  wind  driv- 
ing it  whirleth  every  way  the  flame,  so  raged  he  every  way  with 
his  spear,  as  it  had  been  a  god,  pressing  hard  on  the  men  he 
slew  ;  and  the  black  earth  ran  with  blood.  For  even  as  when  one 
yoketli  wide-browed  bulls  to  tread  white  barley  in  a  stablished 
threshing-floor,  and  quickly  is  it  trodden  out  beneath  the  feet  of 
the  loud-lowing  bulls,  thus  beneath  great-hearted  Achilles  his 
whole-hooved  horses  trampled  corpses  and  shields  together ;  and 
with  blood  all  the  axletree  below  was  sprinkled  and  the  rims  that 
ran  around  the  car,  for  blood-drops  from  the  horses'  hooves 
splashed  them,  and  blood-drops  from  the  tires  of  the  wheels. 
But  the  son  of  Peleus  pressed  on  to  win  him  glory,  flecking  with 
gore  his  irresistible  hands. 


BOOK  XXI 

How  Achilles  fought  with  the  River,  and  chased  the  men  of 
Troy  within  their  gates. 

But  when  now  they  came  unto  the  ford  of  the  fair-flowing 
river,  even  eddying  Xanthos,  whom  immortal  Zeus  begat, 
there  sundering  them  he  chased  the  one  part  to  the  plain 
toward  the  city,  even  where  the  Achaians  were  flying  in 
affright  the  day  before,  when  glorious  Hector  was  in  his  fury 
— thither  poured  some  in  flight,  and  Hera  spread  before  them 
thick  mist  to  hinder  them : — but  half  were  pent  into  the  deep- 
flowing  silVer-eddied  river,  and  fell  therein  with  a  mighty 
noise,  and  the  steep  channel  sounded,  and  the  banks  around 
rang  loudly;  for  with  shouting  they  swam  therein  hither  and 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  363 

thither,  whirled  round  the  eddies.  And  as  when  at  t"he  rush 
of  fire  locusts  take  wing  to  fly  unto  a  river,  and  the  unweary- 
ing fire  flameth  forth  on  them  with  sudden  onset,  and  they 
huddle  in  the  water;  so  before  Achilles  was  the  stream  of 
deep-eddying  Xanthos  filled  with  the  roar  and  the  throng  of 
horses  and  men. 

Then  the  seed  of  Zeus  left  behind  him  his  spear  upon  the 
bank,  leant  against  tamarisk  bushes,  and  leapt  in,  as  it  were  a 
god,  keeping  his  sword  alone,  and  devised  grim  work  at  heart, 
and  smote  as  he  turned  him  every  way  about :  and  their  groan- 
ing went  up  ghastly  as  they  were  stricken  by  the  sword, 
and  the  water  reddened  with  blood.  As  before  a  dolphin  of 
huge  maw  fly  other  fish  and  fill  the  nooks  of  some  fair- 
havened  bay,  in  terror,  for  he  devoureth  amain  whichsoever 
of  them  he  may  catch ;  so  along  the  channels  of  that  dread 
stream  the  Trojans  crouched  beneath  the  precipitous  sides. 
And  when  his  hands  were  weary  of  slaughter  he  chose 
tweh'e  young  men  alive  out  of  the  river,  an  atonement  for 
Patroklos  Menoitios'  son  that  was  dead.  These  brought  he 
forth  amazed  like  fawns,  and  bound  behind  them  their  hands 
with  well-cut  thongs,  which  they  themselves  wore  on  their 
pliant  doublets,  and  gave  them  to  his  comrades  to  lead  down 
to  the  hollow  ships.  Then  again  he  made  his  onset,  athirst 
for  slaying. 

There  met  he  a  son  of  Dardanid  Priam,  in  flight  out  of 
the  river,  Lykaon,  whom  once  himself  he  took  and  brought 
unwilling  out  of  his  father's  orchard,  in  a  night  assault ;  he 
was  cutting  with  keen  bronze  young  shoots  of  a  wild  fig  tree, 
to  be  hand-rails  of  a  chariot ;  but  to  him  an  unlooked-for 
bane  came  goodly  Achilles.  And  at  that  time  he  sold  him 
into  well-peopled  Lemnos,  sending  him  on  ship  board,  and 
the  son  of  Jason  gave  a  price  for  him;  and  thence  a  guest 
friend  freed  him  with  a  great  ransom,  Eetion  of  Imbros,  and 
sent  him  to  goodly  Arisbe;  whence  flying  secretly  he  came  to 
his  father's  house.  Eleven  days  he  rejoiced  among  his  friends 
after  he  was  come  from  Lemnos,  but  on  the  twelfth  once 
more  God  brought  him  into  the  hands  of  Achilles,  who  was 
to  send  him  to  the  house  of  Hades  though  nowise  fain  to  go. 
Him  when  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  saw  bare  of  helm  and 


364  HOMER 

shield,  neither  had  he  a  spear,  but  had  thrown  all  to  the 
ground;  for  he  sweated  grievously  as  he  tried  to  flee  out  of 
the  river,  and  his  knees  were  failing  him  for  weariness:  then 
in  wrath  spake  Achilles  to  his  great  heart:  "Ha!  verily  great 
marvel  is  this  that  I  behold  with  my  eyes.  Surely  then  will 
the  proud  Trojans  whom  I  have  slain  rise  up  again  from 
beneath  the  murky  gloom,  since  thus  hath  this  man  come 
back  escaped  from  his  pitiless  fate,  though  sold  into  goodly 
Lemnos,  neither  hath  the  deep  of  the  hoary  sea  stayed  him, 
that  holdeth  many  against  their  will.  But  come  then,  of  our 
spear's  point  shall  he  taste,  that  I  may  see  and  learn  in  my 
mind  whether  likewise  he  shall  come  back  even  from  beneath, 
or  whether  the  life-giving  Earth  shall  hold  him  down,  she 
that  holdeth  so  even  the  strong." 

Thus  pondered  he  in  his  place;  but  the  other  came  near 
amazed,  fain  to  touch  his  knees,  for  his  soul  longed  exceed- 
ingly to  flee  from  evil  death  and  black  destruction.  Then 
goodly  Achilles  lifted  his  long  spear  with  intent  to  smite  him, 
but  he  stooped  and  ran  under  it  and  caught  his  knees;  and 
the  spear  went  over  his  back  and  stood  in  the  ground,  hun- 
gering for  flesh  of  men.  Then  Lykaon  besought  him,  with 
one  hand  holding  his  knees,  while  with  the  other  he  held  the 
sharp  spear  and  loosed  it  not,  and  spake  to  him  winged  words : 
"I  cry  thee  mercy,  Achilles;  have  thou  regard  and  pity  for 
me :  to  thee,  O  fosterling  of  Zeus,  am  I  in  the  bonds  of  sup- 
pliantship.  For  at  thy  table  first  I  tasted  meal  of  Demeter  on 
the  day  when  thou  didst  take  me  captive  in  the  well-ordered 
orchard,  and  didst  sell  me  away  from  my  father  and  my 
friends  unto  goodly  Lemnos,  and  I  fetched  thee  the  price  of  a 
hundred  oxen.  And  now  have  I  been  ransomed  for  thrice 
that,  and  this  is  my  twelfth  morn  since  I  came  to  Ilios  after 
much  pain.  Now  once  again  hath  ruinous  fate  delivered  me 
into  thy  hands;  surely  I  must  be  hated  of  father  Zeus,  that 
he  hath  given  me  a  second  time  unto  thee;  and  to  short  life 
my  mother  bare  me,  Laothoe,  old  Altes'  daughter — Altes  who 
ruleth  among  the  war-loving  Leleges,  holding  steep  Pedasos 
on  the  Satnioeis.  His  daughter  Priam  had  to  wife,  with  many 
others,  and  of  her  were  we  two  born,  and  thou  wilt  butcher 
both.     Him  among  the  foremost  of  the   foot-soldiers  didst 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  365 

thou  lay  low,  even  godlike  Polydoros,  when  thou  smotest  him 
with  thy  sharp  spear:  and  now  will  it  go  hard  with  me  here, 
for  no  hope  have  I  to  escape  thy  hands,  since  God  hath 
delivered  me  thereunto.  Yet  one  thing  will  I  tell  thee,  and 
do  thou  lay  it  to  heart :  slay  me  not,  since  I  am  not  of  the 
same  mother  as  Hector,  who  slew  thy  comrade  the  gentle 
and  brave." 

Thus  spake  to  him  the  noble  son  of  Priam,  beseeching 
him  with  words,  but  he  heard  a  voice  implacable:  "Fond 
fool,  proffer  me  no  ransom,  nor  these  words.  Until  Patrok- 
los  met  his  fated  day,  then  was  it  welcomer  to  my  soul  to 
spare  the  men  of  Troy,  and  many  I  took  alive  and  sold  beyond 
the  sea :  but  now  there  is  none  shall  escape  death,  whomso- 
ever before  Ilios  God  shall  deliver  into  my  hands — yea,  even 
among  all  Trojans,  but  chiefest  among  Priam's  sons.  Ay, 
friend,  thou  too  must  die :  why  thus  lamentest  thou  ?  Patroklos 
too  is  dead,  who  was  better  far  than  thou.  Seest  thou  not 
also  what  manner  of  man  am  I  for  might  and  goodliness  ?  and 
a  good  man  was  my  father,  and  a  goddess  mother  bare  me. 
Yet  over  me  too  hang  death  and  forceful  fate.  There  cometh 
morn  or  eve  or  some  noonday  when  my  life  too  some  man 
shall  take  in  battle,  whether  with  spear  he  smite  or  arrow  from 
the  string." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  other's  knees  and  heart  were 
unstrung.  He  let  go  Achilles'  spear,  and  sat  with  both  hands- 
outspread.  But  Achilles  drew  his  sharp  sword  and  smote  on 
the  collar-bone  beside  the  neck,  and  all  the  two-edged  sword 
sank  into  him,  and  he  lay  stretched  prone  upon  the  earth, 
and  blood  flowed  dark  from  him  and  soaked  the  earth.  Him 
seized  Achilles  by  the  foot  and  sent  him  down  the  stream, 
and  over  him  exulting  spake  winged  words :  "There  lie 
thou  among  the  fishes,  which  shall  lick  off  thy  wound's  blood 
heedlessly,  nor  shall  thy  mother  lay  thee  on  a  bed  and  mourn 
for  thee,  but  Skamandros  shall  bear  thee  on  his  eddies  into 
the  broad  bosom  of  the  sea.  Leaping  along  the  wave  shall 
many  a  fish  dart  up  to  the  dark  ripple  to  eat  of  the  white 
flesh  of  L3^kaon.  So  perish  all,  until  we  reach  the  citadel  of 
sacred  Ilios,  ye  flying  and  I  behind  destroying.  Nor  even  the 
River,   fair-flowing,   silver-eddied,  shall   avail  you,  to  whom 


366  HOMER 

long  time  forsooth  ye  sacrifice  many  bulls,  and  among  his 
eddies  throw  whole-hooved  horses  down  alive.  For  all  this 
yet  shall  ye  die  the  death,  until  ye  pay  all  for  Patroklos'  slaying 
and  the  slaughter  of  Achaians  whom  at  the  swift  ships  ye  slew 
while  I  tarried  afar." 

Thus  spake  he,  but  the  River  waxed  ever  more  wroth  in 
his  heart,  and  sought  in  his  soul  how  he  should  stay  goodly 
Achilles  from  his  work,  and  ward  destruction  from  the  Tro- 
jans. Meanwhile  the  son  of  Peleus  with  his  far-shadowing 
spear  leapt,  fain  to  slay  him,  upon  Asteropaios  son  of  Pele- 
gon,  whom  wide-flowing  Axios  begat  of  Periboia  eldest  of 
the  daughters  of  Akessamenos,  for  with  her  lay  that  deep- 
eddying  River.  Upon  him  set  Achilles,  and  Asteropaios  stood 
against  him  from  the  river,  holding  two  spears ;  for  Xanthos 
put  courage  into  his  heart,  being  angered  for  the  slaughtered 
youths  whom  Achilles  was  slaughtering  along  the  stream  and 
had  no  pity  on  them.  Then  when  the  twain  were  come  nigh 
in  onset  on  each  other,  unto  him  first  spake  fleet-footed  noble 
Achilles:  "Who  and  whence  art  thou  of  men,  that  darest 
to  come  against  me?  Ill-fated  are  they  whose  children  match 
them  with  my  might." 

And  to  him  made  answer  Pelegon's  noble  son:  "High- 
hearted son  of  Peleus,  why  asketh  thou  my  lineage?  I  come 
from  deep-soiled  Paionia,  a  land  far  off,  leading  Paionian 
men  with  their  long  spears,  and  this  now  is  the  eleventh  morn 
since  I  am  come  to  Ilios.  My  lineage  is  of  wide-flowing  Axios, 
who  begat  Pelegon  famous  with  the  spear,  and  he,  men  say, 
was  my  father.    Now  fight  we,  noble  Achilles !" 

Thus  spake  he  in  defiance,  and  goodly  Achilles  lifted  the 
Pelian  ash :  but  the  warrior  Asteropaios  hurled  with  both 
spears  together,  for  he  could  use  both  hands  alike,  and  with 
the  one  spear  smote  the  shield,  but  pierced  it  not  right  through, 
for  the  gold  stayed  it,  the  gift  of  a  god;  and  with  the  other 
he  grazed  the  elbow  of  Achilles'  right  ami,  and  there  leapt 
forth  dark  blood,  but  the  point  beyond  him  fixed  itself  in 
the  earth,  eager  to  batten  on  flesh.  Then  in  his  turn  Achilles 
hurled  on  Asteropaios  his  straight-flying  ash,  fain  to  have 
slain  him,  but  missed  the  man  and  struck  the  high  bank,  and 
quivering  half  its  length  in  the  bank  he  left  the  ashen  spear. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  367 

Then  the  son  of  Peleiis  drew  his  sharp  sword  from  his  thigh 
and  leapt  fiercely  at  him,  and  he  availed  not  to  draw  with  his 
stout  hand  Achilles'  ashen  shaft  from  the  steep  bank.  Thrice 
shook  he  it  striving  to  draw  it  forth,  and  thrice  gave  up  the 
strain,  but  the  fourth  time  he  was  fain  to  bend  and  break 
the  ashen  spear  of  the  seed  of  Aiakos,  but  ere  that  Achilles 
closing  on  him  reft  him  of  life  with  his  sword.  For  in  the 
belly  he  smote  him  beside  the  navel,  and  all  his  bowels  gushed 
out  to  the  earth,  and  darkness  covered  his  eyes  as  he  lay 
gasping.  Then  Achilles  trampling  on  his  breast  stripped  oflF 
his  armour  and  spake  exultingly:  "Lie  there!  It  is  hard  to 
strive  against  children  of  Kronos'  mighty  son,  even  though 
one  be  sprung  from  a  River-god.  Thou  truly  declarest  thy- 
self the  seed  of  a  wide-flowing  River,  but  I  avow  me  of  the 
lineage  of  great  Zeus.  My  sire  is  a  man  ruling  many  Myrmi- 
dons, Peleus  the  son  of  Aiakos,  and  Aiakos  was  begotten  of 
Zeus.  As  Zeus  is  mightier  than  seaward-murmuring  rivers, 
so  is  the  seed  of  Zeus  made  mightier  than  the  seed  of  a 
river.  Nay,  there  is  hard  beside  thee  a  great  river,  if  he  may 
anywise  avail ;  but  against  Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos  it  is  not 
possible  to  fight.  For  him  not  even  king  Acheloios  is  match, 
nor  yet  the  great  strength  of  deep-flowing  Ocean,  from  whom 
all  rivers  flow  and  every  sea,  and  all  springs  and  deep  wells : 
yea,  even  he  hath  fear  of  the  lightning  of  great  Zeus  and  his 
dread  thunder,  when  it  pealeth  out  of  heaven." 

He  said,  and  from  the  steep  bank  drew  his  bronze  spear, 
and  left  there  Asteropaios  whom  he  had  slain,  lying  in  the 
sands,  and  the  dark  water  flooded  him.  Around  him  eels 
and  fishes  swarmed,  tearing  and  gnawing  the  fat  about  his 
kidneys.  But  Achilles  went  on  after  the  charioted  Paiones 
who  still  along  the  eddying  river  huddled  in  fear,  when  they 
saw  their  best  man  in  the  stress  of  battle  slain  violently  by 
the  hands  and  the  sword  of  the  son  of  Peleus.  There  slew 
he  Thersilochos  and  Mydon  and  Astypylos  and  Mnesos  and 
Thrasios  and  Ainios  and  Ophelestes;  and  more  yet  of  the 
Paiones  would  swift  Achilles  have  slain,  had  not  the  deep- 
eddying  River  called  unto  him  in  wrath,  in  semblance  of  a 
man,  and  from  an  eddy's  depth  sent  forth  a  voice:  "O 
Achilles,  thy  might  and  thy  evil  work  are  beyond  the  measure 


368  HOMER 

of  men;  for  gods  themselves  are  ever  helping  thee.  If  indeed 
the  son  of  Kronos  hath  delivered  thee  all  the  Trojans  to 
destroy,  at  least  drive  them  forth  from  me  and  do  thy  grim 
deeds  on  the  plain,  for  filled  with  dead  men  is  my  pleasant 
bed,  nor  can  I  pour  my  stream  to  the  great  sea,  being  choked 
with  dead,  and  thou  slayest  ruthlessly.  Come  then,  let  be;  I 
am  astonied,  O  captain  of  hosts." 

And  to  him  answered  Achilles  fleet  of  foot:  "So  be  it, 
heaven-sprung  Skamandros,  even  as  thou  biddest.  But  the 
proud  Trojans  I  will  not  cease  from  slaying  until  I  have 
driven  them  into  their  city,  and  have  made  trial  with  Hector 
face  to  face  whether  he  is  to  vanquish  me  or  I  him." 

Thus  saying,  he  set  upon  the  Trojans,  like  a  god.  Then 
unto  Apollo  spake  the  deep-eddying  River:  "Out  on  it,  lord 
of  the  silver  bow,  child  of  Zeus,  thou  hast  not  kept  the 
ordinance  of  Kronos'  son,  who  charged  thee  straitly  to  stand 
by  the  Trojans  and  to  help  them,  until  eve  come  with  light 
late-setting,  and  darken  the  deep-soiled  earth." 

He  said,  and  spear-famed  Achilles  sprang  from  the  bank 
and  leapt  into  his  midst;  but  he  rushed  on  him  in  a  furious 
wave,  and  stirred  up  all  his  streams  in  tumult,  and  swept 
down  the  many  dead  who  lay  thick  in  him,  slain  by  Achilles ; 
these  out  to  land  he  cast  with  bellowing  like  a  bull,  and  saved 
the  living  under  his  fair  stream,  hiding  them  within  eddies 
deep  and  wide.  But  terribly  around  Achilles  arose  his 
tumultuous  wave,  and  the  stream  smote  violently  against  his 
shield,  nor  availed  he  to  stand  firm  upon  his  feet.  Then  he 
grasped  a  tall  fair-grown  elm,  and  it  fell  uprooted  and  tore 
away  all  the  bank,  and  reached  over  the  fair  river  bed  with 
its  thick  shoots,  and  stemmed  the  River  himself,  falling  all 
within  him:  and  Achilles,  struggling  out  of  the  eddy,  made 
haste  to  fly  over  the  plain  with  his  swift  feet,  for  he  was 
afraid.  But  the  great  god  ceased  not,  but  arose  upon  him 
with  darkness  on  his  crest,  that  he  might  stay  noble  Achilles 
from  slaughter,  and  ward  destruction  from  the  men  of  Troy. 
And  the  son  of  Peleus  rushed  away  a  spear's  throw,  with  the 
swoop  of  a  black  eagle,  the  mighty  hunter,  strongest  at  once 
and  swiftest  of  winged  birds.  Like  him  he  sped,  and  on  his 
lireast  the  bronze  rang  terribly  as  he  fled  from  beneath  the 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  369 

onset,  and  behind  him  the  River  rushed  on  with  a  mighty 
roar.  As  when  a  field- waterer  from  a  dark  spring  leadeth 
water  along  a  bed  through  crops  and  garden  grounds,  a  mat- 
tock in  his  hands,  casting  forth  hindrances  from  the  ditch, 
and  as  it  floweth  all  pebbles  are  swept  down,  and  swiftly 
gliding  it  murmureth  down  a  sloping  place,  and  outrunneth 
him  that  is  its  guide: — thus  ever  the  river  wave  caught  up 
Achilles  for  all  his  speed;  for  gods  are  mightier  than  men. 
For  whensoever  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  struggled  to  stand 
against  it,  and  know  whether  all  immortals  be  upon  him 
who  inhabit  spacious  heaven,  then  would  a  great  wave  of 
the  heaven-sprung  River  beat  upon  his  shoulders  from  above, 
and  he  sprang  upward  with  his  feet,  sore  vexed  at  heart;  and 
the  River  was  wearying  his  knees  with  violent  rush  beneath, 
and  devouring  the  earth  from  under  his  feet.  Then  the  son 
of  Peleus  cried  aloud,  looking  up  to  the  broad  heaven :  "Zeus, 
Father,  how  doth  none  of  the  gods  take  it  on  him  in  pity 
to  save  me  from  the  River!  after  that  let  come  to  me  what 
may.  None  other  of  the  inhabitants  of  Heaven  is  chargeable 
so  much,  but  only  my  dear  mother,  who  beguiled  me  with 
false  words,  saying  that  under  the  wall  of  the  mail-clad  men 
of  Troy  I  must  die  by  the  swift  arrows  of  Apollo.  Would 
that  Hector  had  slain  me,  the  best  of  men  bred  here:  then 
brave  had  been  the  slayer,  and  a  brave  man  had  he  slain.  But 
now  by  a  sorry  death  am  I  doomed  to  die,  pent  in  this  mighty 
river,  like  a  swineherd  boy  whom  a  torrent  sweepeth  down  as 
he  essay eth  to  cross  it  in  a  storm." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  quickly  Poseidon  and  Athene  came 
near  and  stood  beside  him,  in  the  likeness  of  men,  and  taking 
his  hands  in  theirs  pledged  him  in  words.  And  the  first  that 
spake  was  Poseidon,  Shaker  of  the  earth:  "Son  of  Peleus, 
tremble  not,  neither  be  afraid;  such  helpers  of  thee  are  we 
from  the  gods,  approved  of  Zeus,  even  Pallas  Athene  and  I, 
for  to  be  vanquished  of  a  river  is  not  appointed  thee,  but  he 
will  soon  give  back,  and  thou  wilt  thyself  perceive  it:  but  we 
will  give  thee  wise  counsel,  if  thou  wilt  obey  it;  hold  not 
thy  hand  from  hazardous  battle  until  within  IHos'  famous 
walls  thou  have  pent  the  Trojan  host,  even  all  that  flee  before 
thee.     But  do  thou,  when  thou  hast  taken  the  life  of  Hector, 


370  HOMER 

go  back  unto  the  ships;  this  glory  we  give  unto  thee  to  win," 
They  having  thus  spoken  departed  to  the  immortals,  but 
he  toward  the  plain — for  the  bidding  of  gods  was  strong 
upon  him — went  onward;  and  all  the  plain  was  filled  with 
water-flood,  and  many  beautiful  arms  and  corpses  of  slain 
youths  were  drifting  there.  So  upward  sprang  his  knees  as 
he  rushed  against  the  stream  right  on,  nor  stayed  him  the 
wide-flowing  River,  for  Athene  put  great  strength  in  him. 
Neither  did  Skamandros  slacken  his  fierceness,  but  yet  more 
raged  against  the  son  of  Peleus,  and  he  curled  crestwise  the 
billow  of  his  stream,  lifting  himself  on  high,  and  on  Simoejs 
he  called  with  a  shout:  "Dear  brother,  the  strength  of  this 
man  let  us  both  join  to  stay,  since  quickly  he  will  lay  waste 
the  great  city  of  king  Priam,  and  the  Trojans  abide  not  in  the 
battle.  Help  me  with  speed,  and  fill  thy  streams  with  water 
from  thy  springs,  and  urge  on  all  thy  torrents,  and  raise  up 
a  great  wave,  and  stir  huge  roaring  of  tree-stumps  and 
stones,  that  we  may  stay  the  fierce  man  who  now  is  lording 
it,  and  deeming  himself  match  for  gods.  For  neither,  I  ween, 
will  strength  avail  him,  nor  comeliness  anywise,  nor  that 
armour  beautiful,  which  deep  beneath  the  flood  shall  be  o'er- 
laid  with  slime,  and  liimself  I  will  wrap  him  in  my  sands  and 
pour  round  him  countless  shingle  without  stint,  nor  shall  the 
Achaians  know  where  to  gather  his  bones,  so  vast  a  shroud 
of  silt  will  I  heap  over  them.  Where  he  dieth  there  shall  be 
his  tomb,  neither  shall  he  have  need  of  any  barrow  to  be 
raised,  when  the  Achaians  make  his  funeral." 

He  said,  and  rushed  in  tumult  on  Achilles,  raging  from 
on  high,  thundering  with  foam  and  blood  and  bodies  of  dead 
men.  Then  did  a  dark  wave  of  the  heaven-sprung  River 
stand  towering  up  and  would  overwhelm  the  son  of  Peleus. 
But  Hera  cried  aloud  in  terror  for  Achilles,  lest  the  great 
deep-eddying  River  sweep  him  away,  and  straightway  she 
called  to  Hephaistos,  her  dear  son:  "Rise,  lame  god,  O  my 
son;  it  was  against  thee  we  thought  that  eddying  Xanthos 
was  matched  in  fight.  Help  with  all  speed,  put  forth  large 
blast  of  flame.  Then  will  I  go  to  raise  a  strong  storm  out 
of  the  sea  of  the  west  wind  and  the  white  south  which  shall 
utterly  consume  the  dead  Trojans  and  their  armour,  blowing 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  371 

tlie  angry  flame.  Thou  along  Xanthos'  banks  burn  up  his 
trees  and  wrap  himself  in  fire,  nor  let  him  anywise  turn  thee 
back  by  soft  words  or  by  threat,  nor  stay  thy  rage — only  when 
I  cry  to  thee  with  my  voice,  then  hold  the  unwearying  fire." 

Thus  spake  she,  and  Hephaistos  made  ready  fierce-blaz- 
ing fire.  First  on  the  plain  fire  blazed,  and  burnt  the  many 
dead  who  lay  there  thick,  slain  by  Achilles ;  and  all  the  plain 
was  parched  and  the  bright  water  stayed.  And  as  when  in  late 
summer  the  north  wind  swiftly  parcheth  a  new  watered 
orchard,  and  he  that  tilleth  it  is  glad,  thus  was  the  whole 
plain  parched,  and  Hephaistos  consumed  the  dead;  then 
against  the  river  he  turned  his  gleaming  flame.  Elms  burnt 
and  willow-trees  and  tamarisks,  and  lotos  burnt  and  rush 
and  galingale,  which  round  the  fair  streams  of  the  river  grew 
in  multitude.  And  the  eels  and  fishes  beneath  the  eddies 
were  afflicted,  which  through  the  fair  streams  tumbled  this 
way  and  that,  in  anguish  at  the  blast  of  crafty  Hephaistos. 
And  the  strong  River  burned,  and  spake  and  called  to  him 
by  name:  "Hephaistos,  there  is  no  god  can  match  with  thee, 
nor  will  I  fight  thee  thus  ablaze  with  fire.  Cease  strife,  yea, 
let  noble  Achilles  drive  the  Trojans  forthwith  out  of  their 
city;  what  have  I  to  do  with  strife  and  succour?" 

Thus  spake  he,  burnt  with  fire,  for  his  fair  streams  were 
bubbling.  And  as  a  caldron  boileth  within,  beset  with  much 
fire,  melting  the  lard  of  some  fatted  hog  spurting  up  on  all 
sides,  and  logs  of  firewood  lie  thereunder, — so  burned  his 
fair  streams  in  the  fire,  and  the  water  boiled.  He  had  no 
mind  to  flow,  but  refrained  him,  for  the  breath  of  cunning 
Hephaistos  violently  afflicted  him.  Then  unto  Hera,  earnestly 
beseeching  her,  he  spake  winged  words:  "Hera,  wherefore 
hath  thy  son  assailed  my  stream  to  vex  it  above  others?  I 
am  less  chargeable  than  all  the  rest  that  are  helpers  of  the 
Trojans.  But  lo,  I  will  give  over,  if  thou  wilt,  and  let  thy 
son  give  over  too.  And  I  further  will  swear  even  this,  that 
never  will  I  ward  the  day  of  evil  from  the  Trojans,  not  even 
when  all  Troy  is  burning  in  the  blaze  of  hungry  fire,  and  the 
warlike  sons  of  Achaians  are  the  burners  thereof." 

Then  when  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  heard  his 
speech,  straightway  she  spake  unto  Hephaistos  her  dear  son : 


372  HOMER 

"Hephaistos,  hold,  famed  son;  it  befitteth  not  thus  for  mortals* 
sake  to  do  violence  to  an  immortal  god." 

Thus  said  she  and  Hephaistos  quenched  the  fierce-blazing 
fire,  and  the  wave  once  more  rolled  down  the  fair  river's  bed. 

So  when  the  rage  of  Xanthos  was  overcome,  both  ceased, 
for  Hera  stayed  them,  though  in  wrath.  But  among  the 
other  gods  fell  grievous  bitter  strife,  and  their  hearts  were 
carried  diverse  in  their  breasts.  And  they  clashed  together 
with  a  great  noise,  and  the  wide  earth  groaned,  and  the  clarion 
of  great  Heaven  rang  around.  Zeus  heard  as  he  sate  upon 
Olympus,  and  his  heart  within  him  laughed  pleasantly  when 
he  beheld  that  strife  of  gods.  Then  no  longer  stood  they 
asunder,  for  Ares  piercer  of  shields  began  the  battle  and  first 
made  for  Athene  with  his  bronze  spear,  and  spake  a  taunting 
word:  "Wherefore,  O  dogfly,  dost  thou  match  gods  with 
gods  in  strife,  with  stormy  daring,  as  thy  great  spirit  moveth 
thee?  Rememberest  thou  not  how  thou  movedst  Diomedes 
Tydeus'  son  to  wound  me,  and  thyself  didst  take  a  visible 
spear  and  thrust  it  straight  at  me  and  pierce  through  my  fair 
skin?  Therefore  deem  I  now  that  thou  shalt  pay  me  for  all 
that  thou  hast  done." 

Thus  saying  he  smote  on  the  dread  tasselled  aegis  that 
not  even  the  lightning  of  Zeus  can  overcome — thereon  smote 
bloodstained  Ares  with  his  long  spear.  But  she,  giving  back, 
grasped  with  stout  hand  a  stone  that  lay  upon  the  plain,  black, 
rugged,  huge,  which  men  of  old  time  set  to  be  the  landmark 
of  a  field;  this  hurled  she,  and  smote  impetuous  Ares  on  the 
neck,  and  unstrung  his  limbs.  Seven  roods  he  covered  in  his 
fall,  and  soiled  his  hair  with  dust,  and  his  armour  rang  upon 
him.  And  Pallas  Athene  laughed,  and  spake  to  him  winged 
words  exultingly:  "Fool,  not  even  yet  hast  thou  learnt  how 
far  better  than  thou  I  claim  to  be,  that  thus  thou  matchest 
thy  might  with  mine.  Thus  shalt  thou  satisfy  thy  mother's 
curses,  who  deviseth  mischief  against  thee  in  her  wrath,  for 
that  thou  hast  left  the  Achaians  and  givest  the  proud  Tro- 
jans aid." 

Thus  having  said  she  turned  from  him  her  shining  eyes. 
Him  did  Aphrodite  daughter  of  Zeus  take  by  the  hand  and 
lead  away,  groaning  continually,  for  scarce  gathered  he  his 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  373 

spirit  back  to  him.  But  when  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera 
was  aware  of  them,  straightway  she  spake  unto  Athene  winged 
words:  "Out  on  it,  child  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  maiden 
invincible,  lo  there  the  dogfly  is  leading  Ares  destroyer  of 
men  out  of  the  fray  of  battle  down  the  throng — nay  then,  pur- 
sue her." 

She  said,  and  Athene  sped  after  her  with  heart  exultant, 
and  made  at  her  and  smote  her  with  stout  hand  upon  the 
breast,  and  straightway  her  knees  and  heart  were  unstrung. 
So  they  twain  lay  on  the  bounteous  earth,  and  she  spake 
winged  words  exultingly:  "Such  let  all  be  who  give  the  Tro- 
jans aid  when  they  fight  against  the  mailed  Argives.  Be  they 
even  so  bold  and  brave  as  Aphrodite  when  she  came  to  suc- 
cour Ares  and  defied  my  might.  Then  should  we  long  ago 
have  ceased  from  war,  having  laid  waste  the  stablished  cita- 
del of  Ilios." 

She  said,  and  the  white-armed  goddess  Hera  smiled.  Then 
to  Apollo  spake  the  earth-shaking  lord:  "Phoebus,  why 
stand  we  apart?  It  befitteth  not  after  the  rest  have  begun: 
that  were  the  more  shameful  if  without  fighting  we  should 
go  to  Olympus  to  the  bronze-threshold  house  of  Zeus,  Begin, 
for  thou  art  younger;  it  were  not  meet  for  me,  since  I  was 
born  first  and  know  more.  Fond  god,  how  foolish  is  thy 
heart!  Thou  rememberest  not  all  the  ills  we  twain  alone  of 
gods  endured  at  Ilios,  when  by  ordinance  of  Zeus  we  came  to 
proud  Laomedon  and  served  him  through  a  year  for  promised 
recompense,  and  he  laid  on  us  his  commands.  I  round  their 
city  built  the  Trojans  a  wall,  wide  and  most  fair,  that  the 
city  might  be  unstormed,  and  thou,  Phoebus,  didst  herd 
shambling  crook-horned  kine  among  the  spurs  of  woody  many- 
folded  Ida.  But  when  the  joyous  seasons  were  accomplish- 
ing the  term  of  hire,  then  redoubtable  Laomedon  robbed  us  of 
all  hire,  and  sent  us  off  with  threats.  He  threatened  that  he 
would  bind  together  our  feet  and  hands  and  sell  us  into  far- 
off  isles,  and  the  ears  of  both  of  us  he  vowed  to  shear  off  with 
the  sword.  So  we  went  home  with  angry  hearts,  wroth  for 
the  hire  he  promised  and  gave  us  not.  To  his  folk  now  thou 
showest  favour,  nor  essayest  with  us  how  the  proud  Trojans 


374  HOMER 

may  be  brought  low  and  perish  miserably  with  their  children 
and  noble  wives." 

Then  to  him  answered  King  Apollo  the  Far-darter: 
"Shaker  of  the  earth,  of  no  sound  mind  wouldst  thou  repute 
me  if  I  should  fight  against  thee  for  the  sake  of  pitiful  mor- 
tals, who  like  unto  leaves  now  live  in  glowing  life,  consuming 
the  fruit  of  the  earth,  and  now  again  pine  into  death.  Let 
us  with  all  speed  cease  from  combat,  and  let  them  do  battle 
by  themselves." 

Thus  saying  he  turned  away,  for  he  felt  shame  to  deal 
in  blows  with  his  father's  brother.  But  his  sister  upbraided 
him  sore,  the  queen  of  wild  beasts,  huntress  Artemis,  and 
spake  a  taunting  word:  "So  then  thou  fleest,  Far-darter, 
and  hast  quite  yielded  to  Poseidon  the  victory,  and  given  him 
glory  for  naught !  Fond  god,  why  bearest  thou  an  ineffectual 
bow  in  vain?  Let  me  not  hear  thee  again  in  the  halls  of  our 
sire  boast  as  before  among  the  immortal  gods  that  thou  wouldst 
stand  up  to  fight  against  Poseidon." 

Thus  spake  she,  but  far-darting  Apollo  answered  her  not. 
But  angrily  the  noble  spouse  of  Zeus  upbraided  the  Archer 
Queen  with  taunting  words:  "How  now  art  thou  fain,  bold 
vixen,  to  set  thyself  against  me?  Hard  were  it  for  thee  to 
match  my  might,  bow-bearer  though  thou  art,  since  against 
women  Zeus  made  thee  a  lion,  and  giveth  thee  to  slay  whomso 
of  them  thou  wilt.  Truly  it  is  better  on  the  mountains  to 
slay  wild  beasts  and  deer  than  to  fight  amain  with  mightier 
than  thou.  But  if  thou  wilt,  try  war,  that  thou  mayest  know 
well  how  far  stronger  am  I,  since  thou  matchest  thy  might 
with  mine." 

She  said,  and  with  her  left  hand  caught  both  the  other's 
hands  by  the  wrist,  and  with  her  right  took  the  bow  from 
off  her  shoulders,  and  therewith,  smiling,  beat  her  on  the  ears 
as  she  turned  this  way  and  that;  and  the  swift  arrows  fell 
out  of  her  quiver.  And  weeping  from  before  her  the  goddess 
fled  like  a  dove  that  from  before  a  falcon  flieth  to  a  hollow 
rock,  a  cleft — for  she  was  not  fated  to  be  caught; — thus 
Artemis  fled  weeping,  and  left  her  bow  and  arrows  where 
they  lay.  Then  to  Leto  spake  the  Guide,  the  slayer  of  Argus : 
"Leto,  with  thee  will  I  no  wise  fight;  a  grievous  thing  it  is 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  375 

to  come  to  blows  with  wives  of  cloud-gathering  Zeus;  but 
boast  to  thy  heart's  content  among  the  immortal  gods  that 
thou  didst  vanquish  me  by  might  and  main." 

Thus  said  he,  and  Leto  gathered  up  the  curved  bow  and 
arrows  fallen  hither  and  thither  amid  the  whirl  of  dust :  so 
taking  her  daughter's  bow  she  went  back.  And  the  maiden 
came  to  Olympus,  to  the  bronze-thresholded  house  of  Zeus, 
and  weeping  set  herself  on  her  father's  knee,  while  round 
her  her  divine  vesture  quivered :  and  her  father,  Kronos'  son, 
took  her  to  him  and  asked  of  her,  laughing  gently:  "Who 
of  the  inhabitants  of  heaven,  dear  child,  hath  dealt  with  thee 
thus  hastily,  as  though  thou  hadst  been  doing  some  wrong 
thing  openly?" 

And  to  him  in  answer  spake  the  fair-crowned  queen  of 
the  echoing  chase:  *'It  was  thy  wife  that  buffeted  me,  father, 
the  white-armed  Hera,  from  whom  are  strife  and  contention 
come  upon  the  immortals." 

Thus  talked  they  unto  one  another.  Then  Phoebus  Apollo 
entered  into  sacred  Ilios,  for  he  was  troubled  for  the  wall 
of  the  well-builded  city,  lest  the  Danaans  waste  it  before  its 
hour  upon  that  day.  But  the  other  ever-living  gods  went  to 
Olympus,  some  angry  and  some  greatly  triumphing,  and  sat 
down  beside  Zeus  who  hideth  himself  in  dark  clouds. 

Now  Acliilles  was  still  slaying  the  Trojans,  both  them- 
selves and  their  whole-hooved  horses.  And  as  when  a  smoke 
goeth  up  to  the  broad  heaven,  when  a  city  burneth,  kindled  by 
the  wrath  of  gods,  and  causeth  toil  to  all,  and  griefs  to  many, 
thus  caused  Achilles  toil  and  griefs  to  the  Trojans.  And  the 
old  man  Priam  stood  on  the  sacred  tower,  and  was  aware 
of  dread  Achilles,  how  before  him  the  Trojans  thronged  in 
rout,  nor  was  any  succour  found  of  them.  Then  with  a 
cry  he  went  down  from  the  tower,  to  rouse  the  gallant  war- 
ders along  the  walls:  "Hold  open  the  gates  in  your  hands 
until  the  folk  come  to  the  city  in  their  rout,  for  closely  is 
Achilles  chasing  them — now  trow  I  there  will  be  deadly  deeds. 
But  when  they  are  gathered  within  the  wall  and  are  taking 
breath,  then  again  shut  back  the  gate-wings  firmly  builded ; 
for  I  fear  lest  that  murderous  man  spring  in  within  the  wall." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  opened  the  gates  and  thrust  back 


376  HOMER 

the  bolts ;  and  the  gates  flung  back  gave  safety.  Then  Apollo 
leapt  forth  to  the  front  that  he  might  ward  destruction  from 
the  Trojans.  They  straight  for  the  city  and  the  high  wall 
were  fleeing,  parched  witih  thirst  and  dust-grimed  from  the 
plain,  and  Achilles  chased  them  vehemently  with  his  spear, 
for  strong  frenzy  possessed  his  heart  continually,  and  he 
thirsted  to  win  him  renown.  Then  would  the  sons  of  the 
Achaians  have  taken  high-gated  Troy,  had  not  Phoebus  Apollo 
aroused  goodly  Agenor,  Antenor's  son,  a  princely  man  and  a 
strong.  In  his  heart  he  put  good  courage,  and  himself  stood 
by  his  side  that  he  might  ward  off  the  grievous  visitations 
of  death,  leaning  against  the  oak,  and  he  was  shrouded  in 
thick  mist.  So  when  Agenor  was  aware  of  Achilles  waster 
of  cities,  he  halted,  and  his  heart  much  wavered  as  he  stood; 
and  in  trouble  he  spake  to  his  great  heart:  "Ay  me,  if  I 
flee  before  mighty  Achilles,  there  where  the  rest  are  driven 
terror-struck,  nathless  will  he  overtake  me  and  slaughter  me 
as  a  coward.  Or  what  if  I  leave  these  to  be  driven  before 
Achilles  the  son  of  Peleus,  and  flee  upon  my  feet  from  the 
wall  by  another  way  to  the  Ileian  plain,  until  I  come  to  the 
spurs  of  Ida,  and  hide  me  in  the  underwood?  So  then  at 
evening,  having  bathed  in  the  river  and  refreshed  me  of 
sweat,  I  might  return  to  Ilios.  Nay,  why  doth  my  heart  debate 
thus  within  me?  Lest  he  might  be  aware  of  me  as  I  get  me 
from  the  city  for  the  plain,  and  speeding  after  overtake  me 
with  swift  feet;  then  will  it  no  more  be  possible  to  avoid 
the  visitation  of  death,  for  he  is  exceeding  mighty  above  all 
mankind.  What  then  if  in  front  of  the  city  I  go  forth  to 
meet  him?  Surely  his  flesh  too  is  penetrable  by  sharp  bronze, 
and  there  is  but  one  life  within,  and  men  say  he  is  mortal, 
howbeit  Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos  giveth  him  renown." 

Thus  saying,  he  gathered  himself  to  await  Achilles,  and 
within  him  his  stout  heart  was  set  to  strive  and  fight.  As  a 
leopardess  goeth  forth  from  a  deep  thicket  to  affront  a  hunts- 
man, nor  is  afraid  at  heart,  nor  fleeth  when  she  heareth  the 
bay  of  hounds ;  for  albeit  the  man  first  smite  her  with  thrust 
or  throw,  yet  even  pierced  through  with  the  spear  she  ceaseth 
not  from  her  courage  until  she  either  grapple  or  be  slain,  so 
noble  Antenor's  son,  goodly  Agenor,  refused  to  flee  till  he 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXI  377 

should  put  Achilles  to  the  proof,  but  held  before  him  the  cir- 
cle of  his  shield,  and  aimed  at  him  with  his  spear,  and  cried 
aloud:  "Doubtless  thou  hopest  in  thy  heart,  noble  Achilles, 
on  this  day  to  sack  the  city  of  the  proud  men  of  Troy.  Fond 
man,  there  shall  many  woful  things  yet  be  wrought  before 
it,  for  within  it  we  are  many  men  and  staunch,  who  in  front 
of  our  parents  dear  and  wives  and  sons  keep  Ilios  safe;  but 
thou  shalt  here  meet  death,  albeit  so  redoubtable  and  bold  a 
man  of  war." 

He  said,  and  hurled  his  sharp  spear  with  weighty  hand, 
and  smote  him  on  the  leg  beneath  the  knee,  nor  missed  his 
mark,  and  the  greave  of  new-wrought  tin  rang  terribly  on 
him;  but  the  bronze  bounded  back  from  him  it  smote,  nor 
pierced  him,  for  the  god's  gift  drave  it  back.  Then  the  son 
of  Peleus  in  his  turn  made  at  god-like  Agenor,  but  Apollo 
suffered  him  not  to  win  renown,  but  caught  away  Agenor, 
and  shrouded  him  in  thick  mist,  and  sent  him  in  peace  to  be 
gone  out  of  the  war.  Then  by  wile  he  kept  the  son  of  Peleus 
away  from  the  folk,  for  in  complete  semblance  of  Agenor 
himself  he  stood  before  the  feet  of  Achilles,  who  hasted  to 
run  upon  him  and  chase  him.  And  while  he  chased  him  over 
the  wheat-bearing  plain,  edging  him  toward  the  deep-eddying 
river  Skamandros,  as  he  ran  but  a  little  in  front  of  him  (for 
by  wile  Apollo  beguiled  him  that  he  kept  ever  hoping  to  over- 
take him  in  the  race),  meantime  the  other  Trojans  in  com- 
mon rout  came  gladly  unto  their  fastness,  and  the  city  was 
filled  with  the  throng  of  them.  Neither  had  they  heart  to 
await  one  another  outside  the  city  and  wall,  and  to  know  who 
might  have  escaped  and  who  had  perished  in  the  fight,  but 
impetuously  they  poured  into  the  city,  whomsoever  of  them 
his  feet  and  knees  might  save. 


378  HOMER 


BOOK  XXII 

How  Achilles  fought  with  Hector,  and  slew  him,  and  brought  his 
body  to  the  ships. 

Thus  they  throughout  the  city,  scared  Hke  fawns,  were 
cooling  their  sweat  and  drinking  and  slaking  their  thirst,  lean- 
ing on  the  fair  battlements,  while  the  Achaians  drew  near  the 
wall,  setting  shields  to  shoulders.  But  Hector  deadly  fate 
bound  to  abide  in  his  place,  in  front  of  Ilios  and  the  Skaian 
gates.  Then  to  the  son  of  Peleus  spake  Phoebus  Apollo: 
"Wherefore,  son  of  Peleus,  pursuest  thou  me  with  swift  feet, 
thyself  being  mortal  and  I  a  deathless  god?  Thou  hast  not 
even  yet  known  me,  that  I  am  a  god,  but  strivest  vehemently. 
Truly  thou  regardest  not  thy  task  among  the  affliction  of  the 
Trojans  whom  thou  affrightedst,  who  now  are  gathered  into  the 
city,  while  thou  hast  wandered  hither.  Me  thou  wilt  never 
slay,  for  I  am  not  subject  unto  death." 

Then  mightily  moved  spake  unto  him  Achilles  fleet  of 
foot :  "Thou  hast  baulked  me,  Far-darter,  most  mischievous 
of  all  the  gods,  in  that  thou  hast  turned  me  hither  from  the 
wall :  else  should  full  many  yet  have  bitten  the  dust  or  ever 
within  Ilios  had  they  come.  Now  hast  thou  robbed  me  of  great 
renown,  and  lightly  hast  saved  them,  because  thou  hadst  no 
vengeance  to  fear  thereafter.  Verily  I  would  avenge  me  on 
thee,  had  I  but  the  power." 

Thus  saying  toward  the  city  he  was  gone  in  pride  of  heart, 
rushing  like  some  victorious  horse  in  a  chariot,  that  runneth 
lightly  at  full  speed  over  the  plain;  so  swiftly  plied  Achilles 
his  feet  and  knees.  Him  the  old  man  Priam  first  beheld  as 
he  sped  across  the  plain,  blazing  as  the  star  that  cometh  forth 
at  harvest-time,  and  plain  seen  his  rays  shine  forth  amid  the 
host  of  stars  in  the  darkness  of  night,  the  star  whose  name 
men  call  Orion's  Dog.  Brightest  of  all  is  he,  yet  for  an  evil 
sign  is  he  set,  and  bringeth  much  fever  upon  hapless  men. 
Even  so  on  Achilles'  breast  the  bronze  gleamed  as  he  ran. 
And  the  old  man  cried  aloud  and  beat  upon  his  head  with  his 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXII  379 

hands,  raising  them  on  high,  and  with  a  cry  called  aloud  be- 
seeching his  dear  son;  for  he  before  the  gates  was  standing,  all 
hot  for  battle  with  Achilles.  And  the  old  man  spake  piteously 
unto  him,  stretching  forth  his  hands:  "Hector,  beloved  son, 
I  pray  thee  await  not  this  man  alone  with  none  beside  thee,  lest 
thou  quickly  meet  thy  doom,  slain  by  the  son  of  Peleus,  since 
he  is  mightier  far,  a  merciless  man.  Would  the  gods  loved 
him  even  as  do  I !  then  quickly  would  dogs  and  vultures  devour 
him  on  the  field — thereby  would  cruel  pain  go  from  my  heart — 
the  man  who  hath  bereft  me  of  many  valiant  sons,  slaying  them 
and  selling  them  captive  into  far-off  isles.  Ay  even  now  twain 
of  my  children,  Lykaon  and  Polydoros,  I  cannot  see  among 
the  Trojans  that  throng  into  the  fastness,  sons  whom  Laothoe 
bare  me,  a  princess  among  women.  If  they  be  yet  alive  amid 
the  enemy's  host,  then  will  we  ransom  them  with  bronze  and 
gold,  for  there  is  store  within,  for  much  goods  gave  the  old 
man  famous  Altes  to  his  child.  If  they  be  dead,  then  even  in 
the  house  of  Hades  shall  they  be  a  sorrow  to  my  soul  and  to 
their  mother,  even  to  us  who  gave  them  birth,  but  to  the  rest 
of  the  folk  a  briefer  sorrow,  if  but  thou  die  not  by  Achilles' 
hand.  Nay,  come  within  the  wall,  my  child,  that  thou  preserve 
the  men  and  women  of  Troy,  neither  give  great  triumph  to 
the  son  of  Peleus,  and  be  thyself  bereft  of  sweet  life.  Have 
compassion  also  on  me,  the  helpless  one,  who  still  can  feel,  ill- 
fated;  whom  the  father,  Kronos'  son,  will  bring  to  nought  by 
a  grievous  doom  in  the  path  of  old  age,  having  seen  full  many 
ills,  his  sons  perishing  and  his  daughters  carried  away  captive, 
and  his  chambers  laid  waste  and  infant  children  hurled  to  the 
ground  in  terrible  war,  and  his  sons'  wives  dragged  away  by 
the  ruinous  hands  of  the  Achaians.  Myself  then  last  of  all  at 
the  street  door  will  ravening  dogs  tear,  when  some  one  by 
stroke  or  throw  of  the  sharp  bronze  hath  bereft  my  limbs  of 
life — even  the  dogs  I  reared  in  my  halls  about  my  table  and  to 
guard  my  door,  which  then  having  drunk  my  blood,  maddened 
at  heart  shall  lie  in  the  gateway.  A  young  man  all  beseemeth. 
even  to  be  slain  in  war,  to  be  torn  by  the  sharp  bronze  and  lie 
on  the  field ;  though  he  be  dead  yet  is  all  honourable  to  him, 
whate'er  be  seen:  but  when  dogs  defile  the  hoary  head  and 


380  HOMER 

hoary  beard  and  the  secret  parts  of  an  old  man  slain,  this  is  the 
most  piteous  thing  that  cometh  upon  hapless  men," 

Thus  spake  the  old  man,  and  grasped  his  hoary  hairs,  pluck- 
ing them  from  his  head,  but  he  persuaded  not  Hector's  soul. 
Then  his  mother  in  her  turn  wailed  tearfully,  loosening  the 
folds  of  her  robe,  while  with  the  other  hand  she  showed  her 
breast;  and  through  her  tears  spake  to  him  winged  words: 
"Hector,  my  child,  have  regard  unto  this  bosom  and  pity  me, 
if  ever  I  gave  thee  consolation  of  my  breast.  Think  of  it,  dear 
child,  and  from  this  side  the  wall  drive  back  the  foe,  nor  stand 
in  front  to  meet  him.  He  is  merciless;  if  he  slay  thee  it  will 
not  be  on  a  bed  that  I  or  thy  wife  wooed  with  many  gifts  shall 
bewail  thee,  my  own  dear  child,  but  far  away  from  us  by  the 
ships  of  the  Argives  will  swift  dogs  devour  thee." 

Thus  they  with  wailing  spake  to  their  dear  son,  beseeching 
him  sore,  yet  they  persuaded  not  Hector's  soul,  but  he  stood 
awaiting  Achilles  as  he  drew  nigh  in  giant  might.  As  a  ser- 
pent of  the  mountains  upon  his  den  awaiteth  a  man,  having  fed 
on  evil  poisons,  and  fell  wrath  hath  entered  into  him,  and  ter- 
ribly he  glareth  as  he  coileth  himself  about  his  den,  so  Hector 
with  courage  unquenchable  gave  not  back,  leaning  his  shining 
shield  against  a  jutting  tower.  Then  sore  troubled  he  spake 
to  his  great  heart :  "Ay  me,  if  I  go  within  the  gates  and  walls, 
Polydamas  will  be  first  to  bring  reproach  against  me,  since  he 
bade  me  lead  the  Trojans  to  the  city  during  this  ruinous  night, 
when  noble  Achilles  arose.  But  I  regarded  him  not,  yet  surely 
it  had  been  better  far.  And  now  that  I  have  undone  the  host 
by  my  wantonness,  I  am  ashamed  before  the  men  of  Troy  and 
women  of  trailing  robes,  lest  at  any  time  some  worse  man  than 
I  shall  say :  'Hector  by  trusting  his  own  might  undid  the  host.' 
So  will  they  speak ;  then  to  me  would  it  be  better  far  to  face 
Achilles  and  either  slay  him  and  go  home,  or  myself  die  glori- 
ously before  the  city.  Or  what  if  I  lay  down  my  bossy  shield 
and  my  stout  helm,  and  lean  my  spear  against  the  wall,  and  go 
of  myself  to  meet  noble  Achilles  and  promise  him  that  Helen, 
and  with  her  all  possessions  that  Alexandros  brought  in  hollow 
ships  to  Troy,  the  beginning  of  strife,  we  will  give  to  the  sons 
of  Atreus  to  take  away,  and  therewithal  to  divide  in  half  with 
the  Achaians  all  else  that  this  city  holdeth :  and  if  thereafter  I 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXII  381 

obtain  from  the  Trojans  an  oath  of  the  Elders  that  they  will 
hide  nothing  but  divide  all  in  twain  whatever  wealth  the 
pleasant  city  hold  within?  But  wherefore  doth  my  heart 
debate  thus?  I  might  come  unto  him  and  he  would  not 
pity  or  regard  me  at  all,  but  presently  slay  me  unarmed  as 
it  were  but  a  woman,  if  I  put  off  my  armour.  No  time  is  it 
now  to  dally  with  him  from  oaktree  or  from  rock,  like  youth 
with  maiden,  as  youth  and  maiden  hold  dalliance  one  with  an- 
other. Better  is  it  to  join  battle  with  all  speed :  let  us  know 
upon  which  of  us  twain  the  Olympian  shall  bestow  renown." 
Thus  pondered  he  as  he  stood,  but  nigh  on  him  came  Ach- 
illes, peer  of  Enyalios  warrior  of  the  waving  helm,  brandish- 
ing from  his  right  shoulder  the  Pelian  ash,  his  terrible  spear; 
and  all  around  the  bronze  on  him  flashed  like  the  gleam  of 
blazing  fire  or  of  the  Sun  as  he  ariseth.  And  trembling  seized 
Hector  as  he  was  aware  of  him,  nor  endured  he  to  abide  in  his 
place,  but  left  the  gates  behind  him  and  fled  in  fear.  And  the 
son  of  Peleus  darted  after  him,  trusting  in  his  swift  feet.  As 
a  falcon  upon  the  mountains,  swiftest  of  winged  things, 
swoopeth  fleetly  after  a  trembling  dove;  and  she  before  him 
fleeth,  while  he  with  shrill  screams  hard  at  hand  still  darted 
at  her,  for  his  heart  urgeth  him  to  seize  her ;  so  Achilles  in  hot 
haste  flew  straight  for  him,  and  Hector  fled  beneath  the  Tro- 
jans' wall,  and  plied  swift  knees.  They  past  the  watch-place 
and  wind-waved  wild  figtree  sped  ever,  away  from  under  the 
wall,  along  the  waggon-track,  and  came  to  the  two  fair-flowing 
springs,  where  two  fountains  rise  that  feed  deep-eddying  Ska- 
mandros.  The  one  floweth  with  warm  water,  and  smoke  go- 
eth  up  therefrom  around  as  it  were  from  a  blazing  fire,  while 
the  other  even  in  summer  floweth  forth  like  cold  hail  of  snow 
or  ice  that  water  formeth.  And  there  beside  the  springs  are 
broad  washing-troughs  hard  by,  fair  troughs  of  stone,  where 
wives  and  fair  daughters  of  the  men  of  Troy  were  wont  to 
wash  bright  raiment,  in  the  old  time  of  peace,  before  the  sons 
of  the  Achaians  came.  Thereby  they  ran,  he  flying,  he  pursu- 
ing. Valiant  was  the  flier  but  far  mightier  he  who  fleetly  pur- 
sued him.  For  not  for  beast  of  sacrifice  or  for  an  oxhide  were 
they  striving,  such  as  are  prizes  for  men's  speed  of  foot,  but 
for  the  life  of  horse-taming  Hector  was  their  race.     And  as 


382  HOMER 

when  victorious  whole-hooved  horses  run  rapidly  round  the 
turning-points,  and  some  great  prize  heth  in  sight,  be  it  a  tri- 
pod or  a  woman,  in  honour  of  a  man  that  is  dead,  so  thrice 
around  Priam's  city  circled  those  twain  with  flying  feet,  and 
all  the  gods  were  gazing  on  them.  Then  among  them  spake 
first  the  father  of  gods  and  men:  "Ay  me,  a  man  beloved  I 
see  pursued  around  the  wall.  My  heart  is  woe  for  Hector, 
who  hath  burnt  for  me  many  thighs  of  oxen  amid  the  crests 
of  many-folded  Ida,  and  other  times  on  the  city-height;  but 
now  is  goodly  Achilles  pursuing  him  with  swift  feet  round 
Priam's  town.  Come,  give  your  counsel,  gods,  and  devise 
whether  we  shall  save  him  from  death  or  now  at  last  slay  him. 
valiant  though  he  be,  by  the  hand  of  Achilles  Peleus'  son." 

Then  to  him  answered  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene ; 
"O  Father,  Lord  of  the  bright  lightning  and  the  dark  cloud, 
what  is  this  thou  hast  said?  A  man  that  is  a  mortal,  doomed 
long  ago  by  fate,  wouldst  thou  redeem  back  from  ill-boding 
death?     Do  it,  but  not  all  we  other  gods  approve." 

And  unto  her  in  answer  spake  cloud-gathering  Zeus:  "Be 
of  good  cheer,  Trito-born,  dear  child :  not  in  full  earnest 
speak  I,  and  I  would  fain  be  kind  to  thee.  Do  as  seemcth  good 
to  thy  mind,  and  draw  not  back." 

Thus  saying  he  roused  Athene,  that  already  was  set  there- 
on, and  from  the  crests  of  Olympus  she  darted  down. 

But  after  Hector  sped  fleet  Achilles  chasing  him  vehe- 
mently. And  as  when  on  the  mountains  a  hound  hunteth  the 
fawn  of  a  deer,  having  started  it  from  its  covert,  through  glens 
and  glades,  and  if  it  crouch  to  baffle  him  under  a  bush,  yet 
scenting  it  out  the  hound  nmneth  constantly  until  he  find  it ; 
so  Hector  baffled  not  Peleus'  fleet-footed  son.  Oft  as  he  set 
himself  to  dart  under  the  well  built  walls  over  against  the  Dar- 
danian  gates,  if  haply  from  above  they  might  succour  him  with 
darts,  so  oft  would  Achilles  gain  on  him  and  turn  him  toward 
the  plain,  while  himself  he  sped  ever  on  the  cityside.  And  as 
in  a  dream  one  faileth  in  chase  of  a  flying  man — the  one  faileth 
in  his  flight  and  the  other  in  his  chase — so  failed  Achilles  to 
overtake  him  in  the  race,  and  Hector  to  escape.  And  thus 
would  Hector  have  avoided  the  visitation  of  death,  had  not  this 
time  been  utterly  the  last  wherein  Apollo  came  nigh  to  him. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXII  383 

who  nerved  his  strength  and  his  swift  knees.  For  to  the  host 
did  noble  Achilles  sign  with  his  head,  and  forbade  them  to  hurl 
bitter  darts  against  Hector,  lest  any  smiting  him  should  gain 
renown,  and  he  himself  come  second.  But  when  the  fourth 
time  they  had  reached  the  springs,  then  the  Father  hung  his 
golden  balances,  and  set  therein  two  lots  of  dreary  death,  one 
of  Achilles,  one  of  horse-taming  Hector,  and  held  them  by  the 
midst  and  poised.  Then  Hector's  fated  day  sank  down,  and 
fell  to  the  house  of  Hades,  and  Phoebus  Apollo  left  him.  But 
to  Peleus'  son  came  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene,  and  stand- 
ing near  spake  to  him  winged  words:  "Now  verily,  glorious 
Achilles  dear  to  Zeus,  I  have  hope  that  we  twain  shall  carry 
off  great  glory  to  the  ships  for  the  Achaians,  having  slain 
Hector,  for  all  his  thirst  for  fight.  No  longer  is  it  possible 
for  him  to  escape  us.  not  even  though  far-darting  Apollo 
should  travail  sore,  grovelling  before  the  Father,  aegis-bearing 
Zeus.  But  do  thou  now  stand  and  take  breath,  and  I  will  go 
and  persuade  this  man  to  confront  thee  in  fight." 

Thus  spake  Athene,  and  he  obeyed,  and  was  glad  at  heart, 
and  stood  leaning  on  his  bronze-pointed  ashen-spear.  And 
she  left  him  and  came  to  noble  Hector,  like  unto  Deiphobos 
in  shape  and  in  strong  voice,  and  standing  near  spake  to  him 
winged  words:  "Dear  brother,  verily  fleet  Achilles  doth  thee 
violence,  chasing  thee  round  Priam's  town  with  swift  feet: 
but  come  let  us  make  a  stand  and  await  him  on  our  defence." 

Then  answered  her  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm: 
"Deiphobos,  verily  aforetime  wert  thou  far  dearest  of  my 
brothers,  whom  Hekabe  and  Priam  gendered,  but  now  me- 
thinks  I  shall  honour  thee  even  more,  in  that  thou  hast  dared 
for  my  sake,  when  thou  sawest  me,  to  come  forth  of  the  wall, 
while  the  others  tarry  within." 

Then  to  him  again  spake  the  bright-eyed  goddess  Athene : 
"Dear  brother,  of  a  truth  my  father  and  lady  mother  and  my 
comrades  around  besought  me  much,  entreating  me  in  turn, 
to  tarry  there,  so  greatly  do  they  all  tremble  before  him;  but 
my  heart  within  was  sore  with  dismal  grief.  And  now  fight 
we  with  straight-set  resolve  and  let  there  be  no  sparing  of 
spears,  that  we  may  know  whether  Achilles  is  to  slay  us  and 

i 


384  HOMER 

carry  our  bloody  spoils  to  the  hollow  ships,  or  whether  he 
might  be  vanquished  by  thy  spear." 

Thus  saying  Athene  in  her  subtlety  led  him  on.  And  when 
they  were  come  nigh  in  onset  on  one  another,  to  Achilles  first 
spake  great  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm :  "No  longer,  son  of 
Peleus,  will  I  fly  thee,  as  before  I  thrice  ran  round  the  great 
town  of  Priam,  and  endureth  not  to  await  thy  onset.  Now 
my  heart  biddeth  me  stand  up  against  thee ;  I  will  either  slay 
or  be  slain.  But  come  hither  and  let  us  pledge  us  by  our  gods, 
for  they  shall  be  best  witnesses  and  beholders  of  covenants :  I 
will  entreat  thee  in  no  outrageous  sort,  if  Zeus  grant  me  to. 
outstay  thee,  and  if  I  take  thy  life,  but  when  I  despoiled  thee 
of  thy  glorious  armour,  O  Achilles,  I  will  give  back  thy  dead 
body  to  the  Achaians  and  do  thou  the  same." 

But  unto  him  with  grim  gaze  spake  Achilles  fleet  of  foot : 
"Hector,  talk  not  to  me,  thou  madman,  of  covenants.  As  be- 
tween men  and  lions  there  is  no  pledge  of  faith,  nor  wolves 
and  sheep  can  be  of  one  mind,  but  imagine  evil  continually 
against  each  other,  so  is  it  impossible  for  thee  and  me  to  be 
friends,  neither  shall  be  any  pledge  between  us  until  one  or 
other  shall  have  fallen  and  glutted  with  blood  Ares,  the  stub- 
born god  of  war.  Bethink  thee  of  all  thy  soldiership:  now 
behoveth  it  thee  to  quit  thee  as  a  good  spearman  and  valiant 
man  of  war.  No  longer  is  there  way  of  escape  for  thee,  but 
Pallas  Athene  will  straightway  subdue  thee  to  my  spear;  and 
now  in  one  hour  shalt  thou  pay  back  for  all  my  sorrows  for  my 
friends  whom  thou  hast  slain  in  the  fury  of  thy  spear." 

He  said,  and  poised  his  far-shadowing  spear  and  hurled. 
And  noble  Hector  watched  the  coming  thereof  and  avoided  it ; 
for  with  his  eye  on  it  he  crouched,  and  the  bronze  spear  flew 
over  him,  and  fixed  itself  in  the  earth;  but  Pallas  Athene 
caught  it  up  and  gave  it  back  to  Achilles,  unknown  of  Hector 
shepherd  of  hosts.  Then  Hector  spake  unto  the  noble  son  of 
Peleus :  "Thou  hast  missed,  so  no  wise  yet,  godlike  Achilles, 
hast  thou  known  from  Zeus  the  hour  of  my  doom,  though  thou 
thoughtest  it.  Cunning  of  tongue  art  thou  and  a  deceiver  in 
speech,  that  fearing  thee  I  might  forget  my  valour  and 
strength.  Not  as  I  flee  shalt  thou  plant  thy  spear  in  my  reins, 
but  drive  it  straight  through  my  breast  as  I  set  on  thee,  if  God 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXII  385 

hath  given  thee  to  do  it.  Now  in  thy  turn  avoid  my  spear  of 
bronze.  O  that  thou  mightst  take  it  all  into  thy  flesh !  Then 
would  the  war  be  lighter  to  the  Trojans,  if  but  thou  wert  dead, 
for  thou  art  their  greatest  bane." 

He  said,  and  poised  his  long-shadowed  spear  and  hurled 
it,  and  smote  the  midst  of  the  shield  of  Peleus'  son,  and  missed 
him  not :  but  far  from  the  shield  the  spear  leapt  back.  And 
Hector  was  wroth  that  his  swift  weapon  had  left  his  hand  in 
vain,  and  he  stood  downcast,  for  he  had  no  second  ashen  spear. 
And  he  called  with  a  loud  shout  to  Deiphobos  of  the  white 
shield,  and  asked  of  him  a  long  spear,  but  he  was  no  wise  nigh. 
Then  Hector  knew  the  truth  in  his  heart,  and  spake  and  said : 
"Ay  me,  now  verily  the  gods  have  summoned  me  to  death.  I 
deemed  the  warrior  Deiphobos  was  by  my  side,  but  he  is  within 
the  wall,  and  it  was  Athene  who  played  me  false.  Now  there- 
fore is  evil  death  come  very  nigh  me,  not  far  off,  nor  is  there 
way  of  escape.  This  then  was  from  of  old  the  pleasure  of  Zeus 
and  of  the  far-darting  son  of  Zeus,  who  yet  before  were  fain 
to  succour  me :  but  now  my  fate  hath  found  me.  At  least  let 
me  not  die  without  a  struggle  or  ingloriously,  but  in  some  great 
deed  of  arms  whereof  men  yet  to  be  born  shall  hear." 

Thus  saying  he  drew  his  sharp  sword  that  by  his  flank 
hung  great  and  strong,  and  gathered  himself  and  swooped  like 
a  soaring  eagle  that  darteth  to  the  plain  through  the  dark 
clouds  to  seize  a  tender  lamb  or  crouching  hare.  So  Hector 
swooped,  brandishing  his  sharp  sword.  And  Achilles  made  at 
him,  for  his  heart  was  filled  with  wild  fierceness,  and  before  his 
breast  he  made  a  covering  with  his  fair  graven  shield,  and 
tossed  his  bright  four-plated  helm;  and  round  it  waved  fair 
golden  plumes  that  Hephaistos  had  set  thick  about  the  crest. 
As  a  star  goeth  among  stars  in  the  darkness  of  night,  Hesperos, 
fairest  of  all  stars  set  in  heaven,  so  flashed  there  forth  a  light 
from  the  keen  spear  Achilles  poised  in  his  right  hand,  devising 
mischief  against  noble  Hector,  eyeing  his  fair  flesh  to  find 
the  fittest  place.  Now  for  the  rest  of  him  his  flesh  was  cov- 
ered by  the  fair  bronze  armour  he  stripped  from  strong  Pat- 
roklos  when  he  slew  him,  but  there  was  an  opening  where  the 
collar  bones  coming  from  the  shoulders  clasp  the  neck,  even  at 
the  gullet,  where  destruction  of  life  cometh  quickliest ;  there,  as 


386  HOMER 

he  came  on,  noble  Achilles  drave  at  him  with  his  spear,  and 
right  through  the  tender  neck  went  the  point.  Yet  the  bronze- 
weighted  ashen  spear  clave  not  the  windpipe,  so  that  he  might 
yet  speak  words  of  answer  to  his  foe.  And  he  fell  down  in 
the  dust,  and  noble  Achilles  spake  exultingly:  "Hector,  thou 
thoughtest,  whilst  thou  wert  spoiling  Patroklos,  that  thou 
wouldst  be  safe,  and  didst  reck  nothing  of  me  who  was  afar, 
thou  fool.  But  away  among  the  hollow  ships  his  comrade,  a 
mightier  far,  even  I,  was  left  behind,  who  now  have  unstrung 
thy  knees.  Thee  shall  dogs  and  birds  tear  foully,  but  his  fu- 
neral shall  the  Achaians  make." 

Then  with  faint  breath  spake  unto  him  Hector  of  the  glanc- 
ing helm:  "I  pray  thee  by  thy  life  and  knees  and  parents 
leave  me  not  for  dogs  of  the  Achaians  to  devour  by  the  ships. 
but  take  good  store  of  bronze  and  gold,  gifts  that  my  father 
and  lady  mother  shall  give  to  thee,  and  give  them  home  my 
body  back  again,  that  the  Trojans  and  Trojans'  wives  give  me 
my  due  of  fire  after  my  death." 

But  unto  him  with  grim  gaze  spake  Achilles  fleet  of  foot : 
"Entreat  me  not,  dog,  by  knees  or  parents.  Would  that  my 
heart's  desire  could  so  bid  me  myself  to  carve  and  eat  raw  thy 
flesh,  for  the  evil  thou  hast  wrought  me,  as  surely  is  there  none 
that  shall  keep  the  dogs  from  thee,  not  even  should  they  bring 
ten  or  twenty  fold  ransom  and  here  weigh  it  out,  and  promise 
even  more,  not  even  were  Priam  Dardanos'  son  to  bid  pay  thy 
weight  in  gold,  not  even  so  shall  thy  lady  mother  lay  thee  on 
a  bed  to  mourn  her  son,  but  dogs  and  birds  shall  devour  thee 
utterly." 

Then  dying  spake  unto  him  Hector  of  the  glancing  helm : 
"Verily  I  know  thee  and  behold  thee  as  thou  art,  nor  was  I 
destined  to  persuade  thee;  truly  thy  heart  is  iron  in  thy  breast. 
Take  heed  now  lest  I  draw  upon  thee  wrath  of  gods,  in  the  day 
when  Paris  and  Phoebus  Apollo  slay  thee,  for  all  thy  valour, 
at  the  Skaian  gate." 

He  ended,  and  the  shadow  of  death  came  down  upon  him, 
and  his  soul  flew  forth  of  his  limits  and  was  gone  to  the  house 
of  Hades,  wailing  her  fate,  leaving  her  vigour  and  youth. 
Then  to  the  dead  man  spake  noble  Achilles:     "Die:  for  mv 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXII  387 

death,  I  will  accept  it  whensoever  Zeus  and  the  other  immor- 
tal gods  are  minded  to  accomplish  it." 

He  said,  and  from  the  corpse  drew  forth  his  bronze  spear, 
and  set  it  aside,  and  stripped  the  bloody  armour  from  the 
shoulders.  And  other  sons  of  Achaians  ran  up  around,  Avho 
gazed  upon  the  stature  and  marvellous  goodliness  of  Hector. 
Nor  did  any  stand  by  but  wounded  him,  and  thus  would  many 
a  man  say  looking  toward  his  neighbour:  "Go  to,  of  a  truth 
far  easier  to  handle  is  Hector  now  than  when  he  burnt  the 
ships  with  blazing  fire."  Thus  would  many  a  man  say,  and 
wound  him  as  he  stood  hard  by.  And  when  fleet  noble  Ach- 
illes had  despoiled  him,  he  stood  up  among  the  Achaians  and 
spake  winged  words:  "Friends,  chiefs  and  counsellors  of  the 
Argives,  since  the  gods  have  vouchsafed  us  to  vanquish  this 
man  who  hath  done  us  more  evil  than  all  the  rest  together, 
come  let  us  make  trial  in  arms  about  the  city,  that  we 
may  know  somewhat  of  the  Trojans'  purpose,  whether  since 
lie  hath  fallen  they  will  forsake  the  citadel,  or  whether  they 
are  minded  to  abide,  albeit  Hector  is  no  more.  But  wherefore 
doth  my  heart  debate  thus?  There  lieth  by  the  ships  a  dead 
man  unbewailed,  unburied,  Patroklos;  him  will  I  not  forget, 
while  I  abide  among  the  living  and  my  knees  can  stir.  Nay 
if  even  in  the  house  of  Hades  the  dead  forget  their  dead,  yet 
will  I  even  there  be  mindful  of  my  dear  comrade.  But  come, 
ye  sons  of  the  Achaians,  let  us  now,  singing  our  song  of  vic- 
tory, go  back  to  the  hollow  ships  and  take  with  us  our  foe. 
Great  glory  have  we  won;  we  have  slain  the  noble  Hector, 
unto  whom  the  Trojans  prayed  throughout  their  city,  as  he  had 
been  a  god." 

He  said,  and  devised  foul  entreatment  of  noble  Hector. 
The  tendons  of  both  feet  behind  he  slit  from  heel  to  ankle- 
joint,  and  thrust  therethrough  thongs  of  ox-hide,  and  bound 
him  to  his  chariot,  leaving  his  head  to  trail.  And  when  he  had 
mounted  the  chariot  and  lifted  therein  the  famous  armour,  he 
lashed  his  h-^rses  to  speed,  and  they  nothing  loth  flew  on.  And 
dust  rose  around  him  that  was  dragged,  and  his  dark  hair 
flowed  loose  on  either  side,  and  in  the  dust  lay  all  his  once  fair 
head,  for  now  had  Zeus  given  him  over  to  his  foes  to  entreat 
foully  in  his  own  native  land. 


388  HOMER 

Thus  was  his  head  all  grimed  with  dust.  But  his  mother 
when  she  beheld  her  son,  tore  her  hair  and  cast  far  from  her 
her  shining  veil,  and  cried  aloud  with  an  exceeding  bitter  cry. 
And  piteously  moaned  his  father,  and  around  them  the  folk 
fell  to  crying  and  moaning  throughout  the  town.  Most  like 
it  seemed  as  though  all  beetling  Ilios  were  burning  utterly  in 
fire.  Scarcely  could  the  folk  keep  back  the  old  man  in  his  hot 
desire  to  get  him  forth  of  the  Dardanian  gates.  For  he  be- 
sought them  all,  casting  himself  down  in  the  mire,  and  calling 
on  each  man  by  his  name:  "Hold,  friends,  and  though  you 
love  me  leave  me  to  get  me  forth  of  the  city  alone  and  go  unto 
the  ships  of  the  Achaians.  Let  me  pray  this  accursed  horror- 
working  man,  if  haply  he  may  feel  shame  before  his  age-fel- 
lows and  pity  an  old  man.  He  also  hath  a  father  such  as  I 
am,  Peleus,  who  begat  and  reared  him  to  be  a  bane  of  Trojans 
— and  most  of  all  to  me  hath  he  brought  woe.  So  many  sons 
of  mine  hath  he  slain  in  their  flower — yet  for  all  my  sorrow 
for  the  rest  I  mourn  them  all  less  than  this  one  alone,  for 
whom  my  sharp  grief  will  bring  me  down  to  the  house  of 
Hades — even  Hector.  Would  that  he  had  died  in  my  arms; 
then  would  we  have  wept  and  wailed  our  fill,  his  mother  who 
bore  him  to  her  ill  hap,  and  I  myself. 

Thus  spake  he  wailing,  and  all  the  men  of  the  city  made 
moan  with  him.  And  among  the  women  of  Troy,  Hekabe 
led  the  wild  lament:  "My  child,  ah,  woe  is  me!  wherefore 
should  I  live  in  my  pain,  now  thou  art  dead,  who  night  and 
day  wert  my  boast  through  the  city,  and  blessing  to  all,  both 
men  and  women  of  Troy  throughout  the  town,  who  hailed  thee 
as  a  god,  for  verily  an  exceeding  glory  to  them  wert  thou  in 
thy  life: — now  death  and  fate  have  overtaken  thee." 

Thus  spake  she  wailing.  But  Hector's  wife  knew  not  as 
yet,  for  no  true  messenger  had  come  to  tell  her  how  her  hus- 
band abode  without  the  gates,  but  in  an  inner  chamber  of  the 
lofty  house,  she  was  weaving  a  double  purple  web,  and  broider- 
ing  therein  manifold  flowers.  Then  she  called  to  her  goodly- 
haired  handmaids  through  the  house  to  set  a  great  tripod  on 
the  fire,  that  Hector  might  have  warm  washing  when  he  came 
home  out  of  the  battle — fond  heart,  and  was  unaware  how. 
far  from  all  washings,  bright-eyed  Athene  had  slain  him  by 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXII  389 

the  hand  of  Achilles.  But  she  heard  shrieks  and  groans  from 
the  battlements,  and  her  limbs  reeled,  and  the  shuttle  fell  from 
her  hands  to  earth.  Then  again  among  her  goodly-haired 
maids  she  spake :  "Come  two  of  ye  this  way  with  me  that  I 
may  see  what  deeds  are  done.  It  was  the  voice  of  my  hus- 
band's noble  mother  that  I  heard,  and  in  my  own  breast  my 
heart  leapeth  to  my  mouth  and  my  knees  are  numbed  beneath 
me :  surely  some  evil  thing  is  at  hand  against  the  children  of 
Priam.  Would  that  such  word  might  never  reach  my  ear !  yet 
terribly  I  dread  lest  noble  Achilles  have  cut  oflf  bold  Hector 
from  the  city  by  himself  and  chased  him  to  the  plain  and  ere 
this  ended  his  perilous  pride  that  possessed  him,  for  never 
would  he  tarry  among  the  throng  of  men  but  ran  out  before 
them  far,  yielding  place  to  no  man  in  his  hardihood." 

Thus  saying  she  sped  through  the  chamber  like  one  mad, 
with  beating  heart,  and  with  her  went  her  handmaidens.  But 
when  she  came  to  the  battlements  and  the  throng  of  men,  she 
stood  still  upon  the  wall  and  gazed,  and  beheld  him  dragged 
before  the  city: — swift  horses  dragged  him  recklessly  toward 
the  hollow  ships  of  the  Achaians.  Then  dark  night  came  on 
her  eyes  and  shrouded  her,  and  she  fell  backward  and  gasped 
forth  her  spirit.  From  off  her  head  she  shook  the  bright  at- 
tiring thereof,  frontlet  and  net  and  woven  band,  and  veil,  the 
veil  that  golden  Aphrodite  gave  her  on  the  day  when  Hector  of 
the  glancing  helm  led  her  forth  of  the  house  of  Eetion,  having 
given  bride-gifts  untold.  And  around  her  thronged  her  hus- 
band's sisters  and  his  brothers'  wives,  who  held  her  up  among 
them,  distraught  even  to  death.  But  when  at  last  she  came 
to  herself  and  her  soul  returned  into  her  breast,  then  wailing 
with  deep  sobs  she  spake  among  the  women  of  Troy :  "O  Hec- 
tor, woe  is  me!  to  one  fate  then  were  we  both  born,  thou  in 
Troy  in  the  house  of  Priam,  and  I  in  Thebe  under  woody 
Plakos,  in  the  house  of  Eetion,  who  reared  me  from  a  little 
one — ill-fated  sire  of  cruel-fated  child.  Ah,  would  he  had 
begotten  me  not.  Now  thou  to  the  house  of  Hades  beneath  the 
secret  places  of  the  earth  departest,  and  me  in  bitter  mourning 
thou  leavest  a  widow  in  thy  halls :  and  thy  son  is  but  an  infant 
child — son  of  unhappy  parents,  thee  and  me — nor  shalt  thou 
profit  him.  Hector,  since  thou  art  dead,  neither  he  thee.     For 


390  HOMER 

even  if  he  escape  the  Achaians'  woful  war,  yet  shall  labour  and 
sorrow  cleave  unto  him  hereafter,  for  other  men  shall  seize 
his  lands.  The  day  of  orphanage  sundereth  a  child  from  his 
fellows,  and  his  head  is  bowed  down  ever,  and  his  cheeks  are 
wet  with  tears.  And  in  his  need  the  child  seeketh  his  father's 
friends,  plucking  this  one  by  cloak  and  that  by  coat,  and  one 
of  them  that  pity  him  holdeth  his  cup  a  little  to  his  mouth,  and 
moisteneth  his  lips,  but  his  palate  he  moisteneth  not.  And 
some  child  unorphaned  trusteth  him  from  the  feast  with  blows 
and  taunting  words,  'Out  with  thee!  no  father  of  thine  is  at 
our  board.'  Then  weeping  to  his  widowed  mother  shall  he 
return,  even  Astyanax,  who  erst  upon  his  father's  knee  ate 
only  marrow  and  fat  flesh  of  sheep ;  and  when  sleep  fell  on  him 
and  he  ceased  from  childish  play,  then  in  bed  in  his  nurse's 
arms  he  would  slumber  softly  nested,  having  satisfied  his  heart 
with  good  things;  but  now  that  he  hath  lost  his  father  he  will 
suffer  many  ills,  Astyanax — that  name  the  Trojans  gave  him, 
because  thou  only  wert  the  defence  of  their  gates  and  their 
long  walls.  But  now  by  the  beaked  ships,  far  from  thy  par- 
ents, shall  coiling  worms  devour  thee  when  the  dogs  have  had 
their  fill,  as  thou  liest  naked ;  yet  in  these  halls  lieth  raiment  of 
thine,  delicate  and  fair,  wrought  by  the  hands  of  women.  But 
verily  all  these  will  I  consume  with  burning  fire — to  thee  no 
profit,  since  thou  wilt  never  lie  therein,  yet  that  this  be  honour 
to  thee  from  the  men  and  the  women  of  Troy." 

Thus  spake  she  wailing,  and  the  women  joined  their  moan. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  391 

BOOK  XXIII 

Of  the  funeral  of  Patroklos,  and  the  funeral  games. 

Thus  they  throughout  the  city  made  moan :  but  the  Achai- 
ans  when  they  were  come  to  the  ships  and  to  the  Hellespont 
were  scattered  each  to  his  own  ship:  only  the  Myrmidons 
Achilles  suffered  not  to  be  scattered,  but  spake  among  his  com- 
rades whose  delight  was  in  war:  "Fleet-horsed  Myrmidons, 
my  trusty  comrades,  let  us  not  yet  unyoke  our  whole-hooved 
steeds  from  their  cars,  but  with  horses  and  chariots  let  us  go 
near  and  mourn  Patroklos,  for  such  is  the  honour  of  the  dead. 
Then  when  we  have  our  fill  of  grievous  wailing,  we  will  unyoke 
the  horses  and  all  sup  here." 

He  said,  and  they  with  one  accord  made  lamentation,  and 
Achilles  led  their  mourning.  So  thrice  around  the  dead  they 
drave  their  well-maned  steeds,  moaning;  and  Thetis  stirred 
among  them  desire  of  wailing.  Bedewed  were  the  sands  with 
tears,  bedewed  the  warriors'  arms ;  so  great  a  lord  of  fear  they 
sorrowed  for.  And  Peleus'  son  led  their  loud  wail,  laying  his 
man-slaying  hands  on  his  comrade's  breast:  "All  hail,  Pa- 
troklos, even  in  the  house  of  Hades;  for  all  that  I  promised 
thee  before  am  I  accomplishing,  seeing  I  have  dragged  hither 
Hector  to  give  raw  unto  dogs  to  devour,  and  twelve  noble 
children  of  the  Trojans  to  slaughter  before  thy  pyre,  because 
of  mine  anger  at  thy  slaying." 

He  said,  and  devised  foul  entreatment  of  noble  Hector, 
stretching  him  prone  in  the  dust  beside  the  bier  of  Menoitios' 
son.  And  the  rest  put  off  each  his  glittering  bronze  arms,  and 
unyoked  their  high-neighing  horses,  and  sate  them  down  num- 
berless beside  the  ship  of  fleet-footed  Aiakides,  and  he  gave 
them  ample  funeral  feast.  Many  sleek  oxen  were  stretched 
out,  their  throats  cut  with  steel,  and  many  sheep  and  bleating 
goats,  and  many  white-tusked  boars  well  grown  in  fat  were 
spitted  to  singe  in  the  flame  of  Hephaistos ;  so  on  all  sides  round 
the  corpse  in  cupfuls  blood  was  flowing. 

But  the  fleet-footed  prince,  the  son  of  Peleus,  was  brought 


392  HOMER 

to  noble  Agamemnon  by  the  Achaian  chiefs,  hardly  persuading 
him  thereto,  for  his  heart  was  wroth  for  his  comrade.  And 
when  they  were  come  to  Agamemnon's  hut,  forthwith  they 
bade  clear- voiced  heralds  set  a  great  tripod  on  the  fire,  if  haply 
they  might  persuade  the  son  of  Peleus  to  wash  from  him  the 
bloody  gore.  But  he  denied  them  steadfastly,  and  sware  more- 
over an  oath:  "Nay,  verily,  by  Zeus,  who  is  highest  and  best 
of  gods,  not  lawful  is  it  that  water  should  come  nigh  my  head 
or  ever  I  shall  have  laid  Patroklos  on  the  fire,  and  heaped  a  bar- 
row, and  shaved  my  hair,  since  never  again  shall  second  grief 
thus  reach  my  heart,  while  I  remain  among  the  living.  Yet 
now  for  the  present  let  us  yield  us  to  our  mournful  meal :  but 
with  the  morning,  O  king  of  men  Agamemnon,  rouse  the  folk 
to  bring  wood  and  furnish  all  that  it  beseemeth  a  dead  man  to 
have  when  he  goeth  beneath  the  misty  gloom,  to  the  end  that 
untiring  fire  may  burn  him  quickly  from  sight,  and  the  host  be- 
take them  to  their  work." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  listened  readily  to  him  and  obeyed, 
and  eagerly  making  ready  each  his  meal  they  supped,  and  no 
lack  had  their  soul  of  equal  feast.  But  when  they  had  put 
off  from  them  the  desire  of  meat  and  drink,  the  rest  went  down 
each  man  to  his  tent  to  take  his  rest,  but  the  son  of  Peleus  upon 
the  beach  of  the  sounding  sea  lay  groaning  heavily,  amid  the 
host  of  Myrmidons,  in  an  open  place,  where  waves  were  break- 
ing on  the  shore.  Now  when  sleep  took  hold  on  him,  easing 
the  cares  of  his  heart,  deep  sleep  that  fell  about  him,  (for  sore 
tired  were  his  glorious  knees  with  onset  upon  Hector  toward 
windy  Ilios),  then  came  there  unto  him  the  spirit  of  hapless 
Patroklos,  in  all  things  like  his  living  self,  in  stature,  and  fair 
eyes,  and  voice,  and  the  raiment  of  his  body  was  the  same ;  and 
he  stood  above  Achilles'  head  and  spake  to  him :  "Thou  sleep- 
est  and  hast  forgotten  me,  O  Achilles.  Not  in  my  life  wast 
thou  ever  unmindful  of  me,  but  in  my  death.  Bury  me  with  all 
speed,  that  I  pass  the  gates  of  Hades.  Far  oflF  the  spirits  ban- 
ish me,  the  phantoms  of  men  outworn,  nor  suffer  me  to  mingle 
with  them  beyond  the  River,  but  vainly  I  wander  along  the 
wide-gated  dwelling  of  Hades.  Now  give  me,  I  pray  pitifully 
of  thee,  thy  hand,  for  never  more  again  shall  I  come  back  from 
Hades,  when  ye  have  given  me  my  due  of  fire.     Never  among 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  393 

the  living  shall  we  sit  apart  from  our  dear  comrades  and  take 
counsel  together,  but  me  hath  the  harsh  fate  swallowed  up 
which  was  appointed  me  even  from  my  birth.  Yea  and  thou 
too  thyself,  Achilles  peer  of  gods,  beneath  the  wall  of  the  noble 
Trojans  art  doomed  to  die.  Yet  one  thing  will  I  say,  and 
charge  thee,  if  haply  thou  wilt  have  regard  thereto.  Lay  not 
my  bones  apart  from  thine,  Achilles,  but  together,  even  as  we 
were  nurtured  in  your  house,  when  Menoitios  brought  me  yet  a 
little  one  from  Opoeis  to  your  country  by  reason  of  a  grievous 
man-slaying,  on  the  day  when  I  slew  Amphidamas'  son,  not 
willing  it,  in  childish  wrath  over  the  dice.  Then  took  me  the 
knight  Peleus  into  his  house  and  reared  me  kindly  and  named 
me  thy  squire:  so  therefore  let  one  coffer  hide  our  bones,  a 
golden  coffer,  two  handled,  thy  lady  mother's  gift." 

Then  made  answer  unto  him  Achilles  fleet  of  foot: 
"Wherefore,  O  my  brother,  hast  thou  come  hither,  and  chargest 
me  everything  that  I  should  do  ?  Verily  I  will  accomplish  all, 
and  have  regard  unto  thy  bidding.  But  stand  more  nigh  me; 
for  one  moment  let  us  throw  our  arms  around  each  other,  and 
take  our  fill  of  dolorous  lament." 

He  spake,  and  reached  forth  with  his  hands,  but  clasped 
him  not;  for  like  a  vapour  the  spirit  was  gone  beneath  the 
earth  with  a  faint  shriek.  And  Achilles  sprang  up  marvelling, 
and  smote  his  hands  together,  and  spake  a  word  of  woe :  "Ay, 
me,  there  remaineth  then  even  in  the  house  of  Hades  a  spirit 
and  phantom  of  the  dead,  albeit  the  life  be  not  anywise  therein: 
for  all  night  long  hath  the  spirit  of  hapless  Patroklos  stood  over 
me,  wailing  and  making  moan,  and  charged  me  everything  that 
I  should  do,  and  wondrous  like  his  living  self  it  seemed." 

Thus  said  he,  and  stirred  in  all  of  them  yearning  to  make 
lament ;  and  rosy-fingered  Morn  shone  forth  on  them  while  they 
still  made  moan  around  the  piteous  corpse.  Then  lord  Aga- 
memnon sped  m-  lies  and  men  from  all  the  huts  to  fetch  wood ; 
and  a  man  of  valour  watched  thereover,  even  Meriones,  squire 
of  kindly  Idomeneus.  And  they  went  forth  with  wood-cutting 
axes  in  their  hands  and  well-woven  ropes,  and  before  them  went 
the  mules,  and  uphill  and  downhill  and  sideways  and  across 
they  went.  But  when  they  came  to  the  spurs  of  many-foun- 
tained  Ida,  straightway  they  set  them  lustily  to  hew  high- 


394  HOMER 

foliaged  oaks  with  the  long-edged  bronze,  and  with  loud  noise 
fell  the  trees.  Then  splitting  them  asunder  the  Achaians  bound 
them  behind  the  mules,  and  they  tore  up  the  earth  with  their 
feet  as  they  made  for  the  plain  through  the  thick  underwood. 
And  all  the  woodcutters  bare  logs;  for  thus  bade  Meriones, 
squire  of  kindly  Idomeneus.  And  on  the  shore  they  threw 
them  down  in  line,  where  Achilles  purposed  a  mighty  tomb  for 
Patroklos  and  for  himself. 

Then  when  they  had  laid  down  all  about  great  piles  of  wood, 
they  sate  them  down  all  together  and  abode.  Then  straightway 
Achilles  bade  the  warlike  Myrmidons  gird  on  their  arms,,  and 
each  yoke  the  horses  to  his  chariot ;  and  they  arose  and  put  their 
armour  on,  and  mounted  their  chariots,  both  fighting  men  and 
charioteers.  In  front  were  the  men  in  chariots,  and  a  cloud 
of  footmen  followed  after,  numberless;  and  in  the  midst  his 
comrades  bare  Patroklos.  And  they  heaped  all  the  corpse  with 
their  hair  that  they  cut  off  and  threw  thereon ;  and  behind  did 
goodly  Achilles  bear  the  head,  sorrowing ;  for  a  noble  comrade 
was  he  speeding  forth  unto  the  realm  of  Hades. 

And  when  they  came  to  the  place  where  Achilles  had  bid- 
den them,  they  set  down  the  dead,  and  piled  for  him  abundant 
wood.  Then  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  bethought  him  of  one 
thing  more :  standing  apart  from  the  pyre  he  shore  off  a  golden 
lock,  the  lock  whose  growth  he  nursed  to  offer  unto  the  River 
Spercheios,  and  sore  troubled  spake  he,  looking  forth  over  the 
wine-dark  sea :  "Spercheios,  in  other  wise  vowed  my  father 
Peleus  unto  thee  that  I  returning  thither  to  my  native  land 
should  shear  my  hair  for  thee  and  offer  a  holy  hecatomb,  and 
fifty  rams  should  sacrifice  there  above  thy  springs,  where  is  thy 
sacred  close  and  altar  burning  spice.  So  vowed  the  old  man, 
but  thou  hast  not  accomplished  him  his  desire.  And  now  since 
I  return  not  to  my  dear  native  land,  unto  the  hero  Patroklos 
I  may  give  this  hair  to  take  away." 

Thus  saying  he  set  the  hair  in  the  hands  of  his  dear  comrade, 
and  stirred  in  all  of  them  yearning  to  make  lament.  And  so 
would  the  light  of  the  sun  have  gone  down  on  their  lamentation, 
had  not  Achilles  said  quickly  to  Agamemnon  as  he  stood  beside 
him:  "Son  of  Atreus — for  to  thy  words  most  will  the  host 
of  the  Achaians  have  regard — of  lamentation  they  ma}-  sate 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  395 

them  to  the  full.  But  now  disperse  them  from  the  burning  and 
bid  them  make  ready  their  meal,  and  we  to  whom  the  dead  is 
dearest  will  take  pains  for  these  things ;  yet  let  the  chiefs  tarry 
nigh  unto  us." 

Then  when  Agamemnon  king  of  men  heard  that,  he 
forthwith  dispersed  the  host  among  the  trim  ships,  but  the  near- 
est to  the  dead  tarried  there  and  piled  the  wood,  and  made  a 
pyre  a  hundred  feet  this  way  and  that,  and  on  the  pyre's  top  set 
the  corpse,  with  anguish  at  their  hearts.  And  many  lusty 
sheep  and  shambling  crook-horned  oxen  they  flayed  and  made 
ready  before  the  pyre;  and  taking  from  all  of  them  the  fat, 
great-hearted  Achilles  wrapped  the  corpse  therein  from  head  to 
foot,  and  heaped  the  flayed  bodies  round.  And  he  set  therein 
two-handled  jars  of  honey  and  oil,  leaning  them  against  the 
bier ;  and  four  strong-necked  horses  he  threw  swiftly  on  the 
pyre,  and  groaned  aloud.  Nine  house-dogs  had  the  dead  chief : 
of  them  did  Achilles  slay  twain  and  throw  them  on  the  pyre. 
And  twelve  valiant  sons  of  great-hearted  Trojans  he  slew  with 
the  sword — for  he  devised  mischief  in  his  heart — and  he  set  to 
the  merciless  might  of  the  fire,  to  feed  thereon.  Then  moaned 
he  aloud,  and  called  on  his  dear  comrade  by  his  name :  "All 
hail  to  thee,  O  Patroklos,  even  in  the  house  of  Hades,  for  all 
that  I  promised  thee  before  am  I  now  accomplishing.  Twelve 
valiant  sons  of  great-hearted  Trojans,  behold  these  all  in  com- 
pany with  thee  the  fire  devoureth :  but  Hector  son  of  Priam  will 
I  nowise  give  to  the  fire  to  feed  upon,  but  to  dogs." 

Thus  spake  he  threatening,  but  no  dogs  might  deal  with 
Hector,  for  day  and  night  Aphrodite  daughter  of  Zeus  kept  off 
the  dogs,  and  anointed  him  with  rose-sweet  oil  ambrosial  that 
Achilles  might  not  tear  him  when  he  dragged  him.  And  over 
him  Phoebus  Apollo  brought  a  dark  cloud  from  heaven  to 
earth  and  covered  all  that  place  whereon  the  dead  man  lay,  lest 
meanwhile  the  sun's  strength  shrivel  his  flesh  round  about  upon 
his  sinews  and  limbs. 

But  the  pyre  of  dead  Patroklos  kindled  not.  Then  fleet- 
footed  noble  Achilles  had  a  further  thought :  standing  aside 
from  the  pyre  he  prayed  to  the  two  Winds  of  North  and  West, 
and  promised  them  fair  offerings,  and  pouring  large  libations 
from  a  golden  cup  besought  them  to  come,  that  the  corpses 


396  HOMER 

might  blaze  up  speedily  in  the  fire,  and  the  wood  make  haste 
to  be  enkindled.  Then  Iris,  when  she  heard  his  prayer,  went 
swiftly  with  the  message  to  the  Winds.  They  within  the  house 
of  the  gusty  West  Wind  were  feasting  all  together  at  meat, 
when  Iris  sped  thither,  and  halted  on  the  threshold  of  stone. 
And  when  they  saw  her  with  their  eyes,  they  sprang  up  and 
called  to  her  every  one  to  sit  by  him.  But  she  refused  to  sit, 
and  spake  her  word :  "  No  seat  for  me ;  I  must  go  back  to  the 
streams  of  Ocean,  to  the  Ethiopians'  land  where  they  sacrifice 
hecatombs  to  the  immortal  gods,  that  I  too  may  feast  at  their 
rites.  But  Achilles  is  praying  the  North  Wind  and  the  loud 
West  to  come,  and  promising  them  fair  offerings,  that  ye  may 
make  the  pyre  be  kindled  whereon  lieth  Patroklos,  for  whom  all 
the  Achaians  are  making  moan." 

She  having  thus  said  departed,  and  they  arose  with  a  mighty 
sound,  rolling  the  clouds  before  them.  And  swiftly  they  came 
blowing  over  the  sea,  and  the  wave  rose  beneath  their  shrill 
blast ;  and  they  came  to  deep-soiled  Troy,  and  fell  upon  the  pile, 
and  loudly  roared  the  mighty  fire.  So  all  night  drave  they  the 
flame  of  the  pyre  together,  blowing  shrill ;  and  all  night  fleet 
Archilles  holding  a  two-handled  cup,  drew  wine  from  a  golden 
bowl,  and  poured  it  forth  and  drenched  the  earth,  calling  upon 
the  spirit  of  hapless  Patroklos.  As  a  father  waileth  when  he 
burneth  the  bones  of  his  son,  new-married,  whose  death  is  woe 
to  his  hapless  parents,  so  wailed  Achilles  as  he  burnt  the  bones 
of  his  comrade,  going  heavily  round  the  burning  pile,  with 
many  moans. 

But  at  the  hour  when  the  Morning  Star  goeth  forth  to 
herald  light  upon  the  earth,  the  star  that  saffron-mantled 
Dawn  cometh  after,  and  spreadeth  over  the  salt  sea,  then  grew 
the  burning  faint,  and  the  flame  died  down.  And  the  Winds 
went  back  again  to  betake  them  home  over  the  Thracian  main, 
and  it  roared  with  a  violent  swell.  Then  the  son  of  Peleus 
turned  away  from  the  burning  and  lay  down  wearied  and  sweet 
sleep  leapt  on  him.  But  they  who  were  with  Atreus'  son  gath- 
ered all  together,  and  the  noise  and  clash  of  their  approach 
aroused  him ;  and  he  sate  upright  and  soaVe  a  word  to  them : 
"Son  of  Atreus  and  ye  other  chiefs  of  the  Achaians.  first  quench 
with  gleaming  wine  all  the  burning  so  far  as  the  fire's  strength 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  397 

hath  reached,  and  then  let  us  gather  up  the  bones  of  Patroklos, 
Menoitios'  son,  singling  them  well,  and  easy  are  they  to  discern, 
for  he  lay  in  the  middle  of  the  pyre,  while  the  rest  apart  at  the 
edge  burnt  confusedly,  horses  and  men.  And  his  bones  let  us 
put  within  a  golden  urn,  and  double-folded  fat,  until  that  I  my- 
self be  hidden  in  Hades.  But  no  huge  barrow  I  bid  you  toil 
to  raise — a  seemly  one,  no  more :  then  afterward  do  ye  Acha- 
ians  build  it  broad  and  high,  whosoever  of  you  after  I  am  gone 
may  be  left  in  the  benched  ships." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  hearkened  to  the  fleet-footed  son 
of  Peleus.  First  quenched  they  with  gleaming  wine  the  burn- 
ing so  far  as  the  flame  went,  and  the  ash  had  settled  deep :  then 
with  lamentation  they  gathered  up  the  white  bones  of  their  gen- 
tle comrade  into  a  golden  urn  and  double-folded  fat,  and  placed 
the  urn  in  the  hut  and  covered  it  with  a  linen  veil.  And  they 
marked  the  circle  of  the  barrow,  and  set  the  foundations  thereof 
around  the  pyre,  and  straightway  heaped  thereon  a  heap  of 
earth.  Then  when  they  had  heaped  up  the  barrow  they  were 
for  going  back.  But  Achilles  stayed  the  folk  in  that  place,  and 
made  them  sit  in  wide  assembly,  and  from  his  ships  he  brought 
forth  prizes,  caldrons  and  tripods,  and  horses  and  mules  and 
strong  oxen,  and  fair-girdled  women,  and  grey  iron. 

First  for  fleet  chariot-racers  he  ordained  a  noble  prize,  a 
w^oman  skilled  in  fair  handiwork  for  the  winner  to  lead  home, 
and  an  eared  tripod  that  held  two-and-twenty  measures ;  these 
for  the  first  man ;  and  for  the  second  he  ordained  a  six-year-old 
mare  unbroke,  with  a  mule  foal  in  her  womb ;  and  for  the  third 
he  gave  a  goodly  caldron  yet  untouched  by  fire,  holding  four 
measures,  bright  as  when  first  made ;  and  for  the  fourth  he  or- 
dained two  talents  of  gold ;  and  for  the  fifth  a  two-handled  urn 
untouched  of  fire.  Then  he  stood  up  and  spake  a  word  among 
the  Argives :  "Son  of  Atreus  and  ye  other  well-greaved  Acha- 
ians,  for  the  chariot-racers  these  prizes  lie  awaiting  them  in  the 
lists.  If  in  some  other's  honour  we  Achaians  were  now  holding 
our  games,  it  would  be  I  who  should  win  the  first  prize  and  bear 
it  to  my  hut ;  for  ye  know  how  far  my  pair  of  horses  are  first  in 
excellence,  for  they  are  immortal,  and  Poseidon  gave  them  to 
my  father  Peleus,  and  he  again  to  me.  But  verily  I  will  abide, 
I  and  my  whole-hooved  horses,  so  glorious  a  charioteer  have 


398  HOMER 

they  lost,  and  one  so  kind,  who  on  their  manes  full  often 
poured  smooth  oil,  when  he  had  washed  them  in  clear  water. 
For  him  they  stand  and  mourn,  and  their  manes  are  trailing  on 
the  ground,  and  there  stand  they  with  sorrow  at  their  hearts. 
But  ye  others  throughout  the  host  get  ye  to  your  places,  whoso- 
ever of  the  Achaians  hath  trust  in  his  horses  and  firm-jointed 
car." 

Thus  spake  the  son  of  Peleus,  and  the  fleet  chariot-racers 
were  gathered.  First  of  all  arose  up  Eumelos  king  of  men, 
Admetos'  son,  a  skilful  charioteer;  and  next  to  him  arose 
Tydeus'  son,  valiant  Diomedes,  and  yoked  his  horses  of  the 
breed  of  Tros,  which  on  a  time  he  seized  from  Aineias,  when 
Apollo  saved  their  lord.  And  after  him  arose  Atreus'  son. 
fair-haired  heaven-sprung  Menelaos,  and  yoked  him  a  swift 
pair,  Aithe,  Agamemnon's  mare,  and  his  own  horse  Podargos. 
Her  unto  Agamemnon  did  Anchises'  son  Echepolos  give  in 
fee,  that  he  might  escape  from  following  him  to  windy  Ilios 
and  take  his  pleasure  at  home;  for  great  wealth  had  Zeus 
given  him,  and  he  dwelt  in  Sikyon  of  spacious  lawns : — so- 
Menelaos  yoked  her,  and  she  longed  exceedingly  for  the  race. 
And  fourth,  Antilochos  made  ready  his  fair-maned  horses, 
even  the  noble  son  of  Nestor,  high-hearted  king,  who  was  the 
son  of  Neleus;  and  fleet  horses  bred  at  Pylos  drew  his  car. 
And  his  father  standing  by  his  side  spake  counselling  him  to 
his  profit,  though  himself  was  well  advised:  "Antilochos, 
verily  albeit  thou  art  young,  Zeus  and  Poseidon  have  loved 
thee  and  taught  thee  all  skill  with  horses;  wherefore  to  teach 
thee  is  no  great  need,  for  thou  well  knowest  how  to  wheel 
round  the  post ;  yet  are  thy  horses  very  slow  in  the  race : 
therefore  methinks  there  will  be  sad  work  for  thee.  For  the 
horses  of  the  others  are  fleeter,  yet  the  men  know  not  more 
cunning  than  thou  hast.  So  come,  dear  son,  store  thy  mind 
with  all  manner  of  cunning,  that  the  prize  escape  thee  not. 
By  cunning  is  a  woodman  far  better  than  by  force;  by  cun- 
ning doth  a  helmsman  on  the  wine-dark  deep  steer  his  swift 
ship  buffeted  by  winds ;  by  cunning  hath  charioteer  the  better 
of  charioteer.  For  whoso  trusting  in  his  horses  and  car  alone 
wheeleth  heedlessly  and  wide  at  either  end,  his  horses  swerve 
on  the  course,  and  he  keepeth  them  not  in  hand.    But  whoso  is 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  399 

of  crafty  mind,  though  he  drive  worse  horses,  he  ever  keep- 
ing his  eye  upon  the  post  turneth  closely  by  it,  neither  is 
unaware  how  far  at  first  to  force  his  horses  by  the  ox-hide 
reins,  but  holdeth  them  safe  in  hand  and  watcheth  the  leader 
in  the  race.  Now  will  I  tell  thee  a  certain  sign,  and  it  shall 
not  escape  thee.  A  fathom's  height  above  the  ground  standeth 
a  withered  stump,  whether  of  oak  or  pine :  it  decayeth  not  in 
the  rain,  and  two  white  stones  on  either  side  thereof  are 
fixed  at  the  joining  of  the  track,  and  all  round  it  is  smooth 
dri\ing  ground.  Whether  it  be  a  monument  of  some  man 
dead  long  ago,  or  have  been  made  their  goal  in  the  race  by 
ancient  men,  this  now  is  the  mark  fixed  by  fleet-footed  goodly 
Achilles.  Wherefore  do  thou  drive  close  and  bear  thy  horses 
and  chariot  hard  thereon,  and  lean  thy  body  on  the  well-knit 
car  slightly  to  their  left,  and  call  upon  the  off-horse  with 
voice  and  lash,  and  give  him  rein  from  thy  hand.  But  let 
the  near  horse  hug  the  post  so  that  the  nave  of  the  well- 
wrought  wheel  seem  to  graze  it — yet  beware  of  touching  the 
stone,  lest  thou  wound  the  horses  and  break  the  chariot;  so 
would  that  be  triumph  to  the  rest  and  reproach  unto  thyself. 
But,  dear  son,  be  wise  and  on  thy  guard;  for  if  at  the  turn- 
ing-post thou  drive  past  the  rest,  there  is  none  shall  overtake 
thee  from  behind  or  pass  thee  by,  not  though  he  drave  the 
goodly  Arion  in  pursuit,  the  fleet  horse  of  Adrastos,  of  divine 
descent,  or  the  horses  of  Laomedon,  best  of  all  bred  in  this 
land." 

Thus  spake  Neleian  Nestor  and  sate  him  down  again  in 
his  place,  when  he  had  told  his  son  the  sum  of  every  matter. 

And  Meriones  was  the  fifth  to  make  ready  his  sleek- 
coated  steeds.  Then  went  they  up  into  their  chariots,  and 
cast  in  the  lots:  and  Achilles  shook  them,  and  forth  leapt 
the  lot  of  Antilochos  Nestor's  son,  and  the  next  lot  had  lord 
Eumelos,  and  next  to  him  the  son  of  Atreus,  spear-famed 
■Menelaos,  and  next  to  him  drew  Meriones  his  place;  then 
lastly  Tydeides,  far  the  best  of  all,  drew  his  lot  for  his  chariot's 
place.  Then  they  stood  side  by  side,  and  Achilles  showed 
to  them  the  turning-post,  far  ofY  in  the  smooth  plain;  and 
beside  it  he  placed  an  umpire,  god-like  Phoinix,  his  father's 


400  HOMER 

follower,  that  he  might  note  the  running  and  tell  the  truth 
thereof. 

Then  all  together  lifted  the  lash  above  their  steeds,  and 
smote  them  with  the  reins,  and  called  on  them  eagerly  with 
words:  and  they  forthwith  sped  swiftly  over  the  plain,  leav- 
ing the  ships  behind;  and  beneath  their  breasts  stood  the 
rising  dust  like  a  cloud  or  whirlwind,  and  their  manes  waved 
on  the  blowing  wind.  And  the  chariots  ran  sometimes  on 
the  bounteous  earth,  and  other  whiles  would  bound  into  the 
air.  And  the  drivers  stood  in  the  cars,  and  the  heart  of  every 
man  beat  in  desire  of  victory,  and  they  called  every  man  to 
his  horses,  that  flew  amid  their  dust  across  the  plain. 

But  when  the  fleet  horses  were  now  running  the  last  part 
of  the  course,  back  toward  the  grey  sea,  then  was  manifest 
the  prowess  of  each,  and  the  horses  strained  in  the  race; 
and  presently  to  the  front  rushed  the  fleet  mares  of  Pheres' 
grandson,  and  next  to  them  Diomedes'  stallions  of  the  breed 
of  Tros,  not  far  apart,  but  hard  anigh,  for  they  seemed  ever 
as  they  would  mount  Eumelos'  car,  and  with  their  breath 
his  back  was  warm  and  his  broad  shoulders,  for  they  bent 
their  heads  upon  him  as  they  flew  along.  Thus  would  Tydeus' 
son  have  either  outstripped  the  other  or  made  it  a  dead  heat, 
had  not  Phoebus  Apollo  been  wroth  with  him  and  smitten 
from  his  hand  the  shining  lash.  Then  from  his  eyes  ran 
tears  of  anger,  for  that  he  saw  the  mares  still  at  speed,  even 
swiftlier  than  before,  while  his  own  horses  were  thrown  out, 
as  running  without  spur.  But  Athene  was  not  unaware  of 
Apollo's  guile  against  Tydeides,  and  presently  sped  after  the 
shepherd  of  hosts,  and  gave  him  back  the  lash,  and  put  spirit 
into  his  steeds.  Then  in  wrath  after  the  son  of  Admetos 
was  the  goddess  gone,  and  brake  his  steeds'  yoke,  and  the 
mares  ran  sideways  oflF  the  course,  and  the  pole  was  twisted 
to  the  ground.  And  Eumelos  was  hurled  out  of  the  car  beside 
the  wheel,  and  his  elbows  and  mouth  and  nose  were  flayed, 
and  his  forehead  bruised  above  his  eyebrows;  and  his  eyes 
filled  with  tears  and  his  lusty  voice  was  choked.  Then  Tydei- 
des held  his  whole-hooved  horses  on  one  side,  darting  far 
out  before  the  rest,  for  Athene  put  spirit  into  his  steeds  and 
shed  glory  on  himself.     Now  next  after  him  came  golden- 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  401 

haired  Menelaos  Atreus'  son.  But  Antilochos  called  to  his 
father's  horses :  "Go  ye  too  in,  strain  to  your  fleetest  pace. 
Truly  I  nowise  bid  you  strive  with  those,  the  horses  of  wise 
Tydeides,  unto  which  Athene  hath  now  given  speed,  and  shed 
glory  on  their  charioteer.  But  overtake  Atreides'  horses  with 
all  haste,  and  be  not  outstripped  by  them,  lest  Aithe  that  is 
but  a  mare  pour  scorn  on  you.  Why  are  ye  outstripped,  brave 
steeds?  Thus  will  I  tell  you,  and  verily  it  shall  be  brought 
to  pass — ye  will  find  no  tendance  with  Nestor  shepherd  of 
hosts,  but  straightway  he  will  slay  you  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword  if  through  heedlessness  we  win  but  the  worse  prize. 
Have  after  them  at  your  utmost  speed,  and  I  for  my  part 
will  devise  a  plan  to  pass  them  in  the  strait  part  of  the  course, 
and  this  shall  fail  me  not." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  fearing  the  voice  of  the  prince 
ran  swiftlier  some  little  while;  and  presently  did  the  good 
warrior  Antilochos  espy  a  strait  place  in  a  sunk  part  of  the 
way.  There  was  a  rift  in  the  earth,  where  torrent  water 
gathered  and  brake  part  of  the  track  away,  and  hollowed  all 
the  place;  there  drave  Menelaos,  shunning  the  encounter  of 
the  wheels.  But  Antilochos  turned  his  whole-hooved  horses 
out  of  the  track,  and  followed  him  a  little  at  one  side.  And 
the  son  of  Atreus  took  alarm  and  shouted  to  Antilochos: 
"Antilochos,  thou  art  driving  recklessly — hold  in  thy  horses! 
The  road  is  straitened,  soon  thou  mayest  pass  me  in  a  wider 
place,  lest  thou  foul  my  chariot  and  undo  us  both." 

Thus  spake  he,  but  Antilochos  drave  even  fiercelier  than 
before,  plying  his  lash,  as  though  he  heard  him  not.  As  far 
as  is  the  range  of  a  disk  swung  from  the  shoulder  when  a 
young  man  hurleth  it,  making  trial  of  his  force,  even  so  far 
ran  they  on;  then  the  mares  of  Atreus'  son  gave  back,  for 
he  ceased  of  himself  to  urge  them  on,  lest  the  whole-hooved 
steeds  should  encounter  on  the  track,  and  overset  the  well- 
knit  cars,  and  the  drivers  fall  in  the  dust  in  their  zeal  for 
victory.  So  upbraiding  Antilochos  spake  golden-haired  Mene- 
laos: "Antilochos,  no  mortal  man  is  more  malicious  than 
thou.  Gk)  thy  mad  way,  since  falsely  have  we  Achaians  called 
thee  wise.  Yet  even  so  thou  shalt  not  bear  oflF  the  prize 
unchallenged  to  an  oath." 


402  HOMER 

Thus  saying  he  called  aloud  to  his  horses :  "  Hold  ye 
not  back  nor  stand  still  with  sorrow  at  heart.  Their  feet 
and  knees  will  grow  weary  before  yours,  for  they  both  lack 
youth." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  fearing  the  voice  of  the  prince 
sped  faster  on,  and  were  quickly  close  upon  the  others. 

Now  the  Argives  sitting  in  concourse  were  gazing  at  the 
horses,  and  they  came  flying  amid  their  dust  over  the  plain. 
And  the  first  aware  of  them  was  Idomeneus,  chief  of  the 
Cretans,  for  he  was  sitting  outside  the  concourse  in  the 
highest  place  of  view,  and  when  he  heard  the  voice  of  one 
that  shouted,  though  afar  ofT,  he  knew  it;  and  he  was  aware 
of  a  horse  showing  plainly  in  the  front,  a  chestnut  all  the 
rest  of  him,  but  in  the  forehead  marked  with  a  white  star 
round  like  the  moon.  And  he  stood  upright  and  spoke 
among  the  Argives:  "Friends,  chiefs,  and  counsellors  of  the 
Argives,  is  it  I  alone  who  see  the  horses,  or  do  ye  also?  A 
new  pair  seem  to  me  now  to  be  in  front,  and  a  new  charioteer 
appeareth;  the  mares  which  led  in  the  outward  course  must 
have  been  thrown  out  there  in  the  plain.  For  I  saw  them 
turning  first  the  hither  post,  but  now  can  see  them  nowhere, 
though  my  eyes  are  gazing  everywhere  along  the  Trojan 
plain.  Did  the  reins  escape  the  charioteer  so  that  he  could 
not  drive  aright  round  the  post  and  failed  in  the  turn?  There, 
methinks,  must  he  have  been  cast  forth,  and  have  broken 
his  chariot,  and  the  mares  must  have  left  the  course,  in  the 
wildness  of  their  heart.  But  stand  up  ye  too  and  look,  for 
myself  I  discern  not  certainly,  but  the  first  man  seemeth 
to  me  one  of  Aitolian  race,  and  he  ruleth  among  Argives,  the 
son  of  horse-taming  Tydeus,   stalwart  Diomedes." 

Then  fleet  Aias  Oileus'  son  rebuked  him  in  unseemly  sort : 
"Idomeneus,  why  art  thou  a  braggart  of  old?  As  yet  far 
off  the  high-stepping  mares  are  coursing  over  the  wide  plain. 
Neither  art  thou  so  far  the  youngest  among  the  Argives,  nor 
do  thy  eyes  look  so  far  the  keenliest  from  thy  head,  yet  con- 
tinually braggest  thou.  It  beseemeth  thee  not  to  be  a  brag- 
gart, for  there  are  here  better  men.  And  the  mares  leading 
are  they  that  led  before,  Eumelos'  mares,  and  he  standeth  and 
holdeth  the  reins  within  the  car." 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  403 

Then  wrath  fully  in  answer  spake  the  chief  of  Cretans : 
"Aias,  master  of  railing,  ill-counselled,  in  all  else  art  thou 
behind  other  Argives,  for  thy  mind  is  unfriendly.  Come 
then  let  us  wager  a  tripod  or  caldron,  and  make  Agamemnon 
Atreus'  son  our  umpire,  which  mares  are  leading,  that  thou 
mayest  pay  and  learn." 

Thus  said  he,  and  straightway  fleet  Aias  Oileus'  son  arose 
angrily  to  answer  with  harsh  words:  and  strife  between  the 
twain  would  have  gone  further,  had  not  Achilles  himself 
stood  up  and  spake  a  word.:  "No  longer  answer  each  other 
with  harsh  words,  Aias  and  Idomeneus,  ill  words,  for  it 
beseemeth  not.  Surely  ye  are  displeased  with  any  other  who 
should  do  thus.  Sit  ye  in  the  concourse  and  keep  your  eyes 
upon  the  horses ;  soon  they  in  zeal  for  victory  will  come 
hither,  and  then  shall  ye  know  each  of  you  the  Argives'  horses, 
which  follow,  and  which  lead." 

He  said,  and  the  son  of  Tydeus  came  driving  up,  and 
with  his  lash  smote  now  and  again  from  the  shoulder,  and 
his  horses  were  stepping  high  as  they  sped  swiftly  on  their 
way.  And  sprinklings  of  dust  smote  ever  the  charioteer, 
and  his  chariot  overlaid  with  gold  and  tin  ran  behind  his 
fleet-footed  steeds,  and  small  trace  was  there  of  the  wheel- 
tires  behind  in  the  fine  dust,  as  they  flew  speeding  on.  Then 
he  drew  up  in  the  mid  concourse,  and  much  sweat  poured 
from  the  horses'  heads  and  chests  to  the  ground.  And  Dio- 
medes  leapt  to  earth  from  the  shining  car,  and  leant  his  lash 
against  the  3^oke.  Then  stalwart  Sthenelos  tarried  not,  but 
promptly  took  the  prize,  and  gave  to  his  proud  comrades  the 
woman  to  lead  and  the  eared  tripod  to  bear  away,  and  he 
loosed  the  horses  from  the  yoke. 

And  next  after  him  drave  Neleian  Antilochos  his  horses, 
by  craft,  not  swiftness,  having  passed  by  Menelaos;  yet  even 
now  Menelaos  held  his  swift  steeds  hard  anigh.  As  far  as  a 
horse  is  from  the  wheel,  which  draweth  his  master,  straining 
with  the  car  over  the  plain — his  hindmost  tail-hairs  touch 
the  tire,  for  the  wheel  runneth  hard  anigh  nor  is  much  space 
between,  as  he  speedeth  far  over  the  plain — by  so  much  was 
Menelaos  behind  high-born  Antilochos,  howbeit  at  first  he 
was  a  whole  disk-cast  behind,  but  quickly  he  was  catching 


404  HOMER 

Antilochos  up,  for  the  high  mettle  of  Agamemnon's  mare, 
sleek-coated  Aithe,  was  rising  in  her.  And  if  yet  further 
both  had  had  to  run  he  would  have  passed  his  rival  nor  left 
it  even  a  dead  heat.  But  Meriones,  stout  squire  of  Idomeneus, 
came  in  a  spear-throw  behind  famous  Menelaos,  for  tardiest 
of  all  were  his  sleek-coated  horses,  and  slowest  he  himself 
to  drive  a  chariot  in  the  race.  Last  of  them  all  came  Admetos' 
son,  dragging  his  goodly  car,  driving  his  steeds  in  front.  Him 
when  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  beheld  he  pitied  him,  and  he 
stood  up  and  spake  winged  words  among  the  Argives:  "Last 
driveth  his  whole-hooved  horses  the  best  man  of  them  all. 
But  come  let  us  give  him  a  prize,  as  is  seemly,  prize  for  the 
second  place,  but  the  first  let  the  son  of  Tydeus  take." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  all  applauded  that  he  bade.  And 
he  would  have  given  him  the  mare,  for  the  Achaians  applauded, 
had  not  Antilochos,  son  of  great-hearted  Nestor,  risen  up 
and  answered  Peleian  Achilles  on  behalf  of  his  right:  "O 
Achilles,  I  shall  be  sore  angered  with  thee  if  thou  accomplish 
this  word,  for  thou  art  minded  to  take  away  my  prize,  because 
thou  thinkest  of  how  his  chariot  and  fleet  steeds  miscarried, 
and  himself  withal,  good  man  though  he  be.  Nay,  it  behoved 
him  to  pray  to  the  Immortals,  then  would  he  not  have  come 
in  last  of  all  in  the  race.  But  if  thou  pitiest  him  and  he 
be  dear  to  thy  heart,  there  is  much  gold  in  thy  hut,  bronze  is 
there  and  sheep,  handmaids  are  there  and  whole-hooved 
horses.  Thereof  take  thou  and  give  unto  him  afterward  even 
a  richer  prize,  or  even  now  at  once,  that  the  Achaians  may 
applaud  thee.  But  the  mare  I  will  not  yield ;  for  her  let  what 
man  will  essay  the  battle  at  my  hands." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  fleet-footed  noble  Achilles  smiled, 
pleased  with  Antilochos,  for  he  was  his  dear  comrade;  and 
spake  in  answer  to  him  winged  words:  "Antilochos,  if  thou 
wouldst  have  me  give  Eumelos  some  other  thing  beside  from 
out  my  house,  that  also  will  I  do.  I  will  give  unto  him  a 
breast-plate  that  I  took  from  Asteropaios,  of  bronze,  whereon 
a  casting  of  bright  tin  is  overlaid,  and  of  great  worth  will  it 
be  to  him."  He  said,  and  bade  his  dear  comrade  Automedon 
bring  it  from  the  hut,  and  he  went  and  brought  it.  Then  he 
placed  it  in  Eumelos'  hands,  and  he  received  it  gladly. 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXllI  405 

But  Menelaos  also  arose  among  them,  sore  at  heart, 
angered  exceedingly  against  Antilochos;  and  the  herald  set 
the  staff  in  his  hand,  and  called  for  silence  among  the  Argives ; 
then  spake  among  them  that  godlike  man:  "Antilochos,  who 
once  wert  wise,  what  thing  is  this  thou  hast  done?  Thou 
hast  shamed  my  skill  and  made  my  horses  fail,  thrusting 
thine  own  in  front  that  are  far  worse.  Come  now,  ye  chiefs 
and  counsellors  of  the  Argives,  give  judgment  between  us 
both,  and  favour  neither:  lest  some  one  of  the  mail-clad 
Achaians  say  at  any  time :  *  By  constraining  Antilochos 
through  false  words  hath  Menelaos  gone  off  with  the  mare, 
for  his  horses  were  far  worse,  howbeit  he  hath  advantage  in 
rank  and  power.'  Nay,  I  myself  will  bring  the  issue  about, 
and  I  deem  that  none  other  of  the  Danaans  shall  reproach 
me,  for  the  trial  shall  be  just.  Antilochos,  fosterling  of  Zeus, 
come  thou  hither  and  as  it  Is  ordained  stand  up  before  thy 
horses  and  chariot  and  take  in  thy  hand  the  pliant  lash  where- 
with thou  dravest  erst,  and  touching  thy  horses  swear  by 
the  Enfolder  and  Shaker  of  the  earth  that  not  wilfully  didst 
thou  hinder  my  chariot  by  guile." 

Then  answered  him  wise  Antilochos :  "Bear  with  me  now, 
for  far  younger  am  I  than  thou,  king  Menelaos,  and  thou 
art  before  me  and  my  better.  Thou  knowest  how  a  young 
man's  trangressions  come  about,  for  his  mind  is  hastier  and 
his  counsel  shallow.  So  let  thy  heart  suffer  me,  and  I  will 
of  myself  give  to  thee  the  mare  I  have  taken.  Yea,  if  thou 
shouldst  ask  some  other  greater  thing  from  my  house,  I  were 
fain  to  give  it  thee  straightway,  rather  than  fall  for  ever  from 
my  place  in  thy  heart,  O  fosterling  of  Zeus,  and  become  a 
sinner  against  the  gods." 

Thus  spake  great-hearted  Nestor's  son,  and  brought  the 
mare  and  put  her  in  the  hand  of  Menelaos.  And  his  heart 
was  gladdened  as  when  the  dew  cometh  upon  the  ears  of 
ripening  harvest-corn,  what  time  the  fields  are  bristling.  So 
gladdened  was  thy  soul,  Menelaos,  within  thy  heart.  And 
he  spake  unto  Antilochos  and  uttered  winged  words :  "Anti- 
lochos, now  will  I  of  myself  put  away  mine  anger  against 
thee,  since  no  wise  formerly  wert  thou  flighty  or  light-minded, 
howbeit   now  thy   reason  was   overcome   of   youthfulness. 


406  HOMER 

Another  time  be  loth  to  outwit  better  men.  Not  easily  should 
another  of  the  Achaians  have  persuaded  me,  but  thou  hast 
suffered  and  toiled  greatly,  and  thy  brave  father  and  brother, 
for  my  sake :  therefore  will  I  hearken  to  thy  prayer,  and  will 
even  give  unto  thee  the  mare,  though  she  is  mine,  that  these 
also  may  know  that  my  heart  was  never  overweening  or 
implacable." 

He  said,  and  gave  the  mare  to  Noemon  Antilochos'  com- 
rade to  lead  away,  and  then  took  the  shining  caldron.  And 
Meriones  took  up  the  two  talents  of  gold  in  the  fourth  place, 
as  he  had  come  in.  So  the  fifth  prize  was  left  unclaimed,  a 
two-handled  cup;  to  Nestor  gave  Achilles  this,  bearing  it 
to  him  through  the  concourse  of  Argives,  and  stood  by  him 
and  said:  "Lo  now  for  thee  too,  old  man,  be  this  a  treasure,  a 
memorial  of  Patroklos'  burying;  for  no  more  shalt  thou 
behold  him  among  the  Argives.  Now  give  I  thee  this  prize 
unwon,  for  not  in  boxing  shalt  thou  strive,  neither  wrestle,  nor 
enter  on  the  javelin  match,  nor  race  with  thy  feet ;  for  grim 
old  age  already  weigheth  on  thee." 

Thus  saying  he  placed  it  in  his  hand,  and  Nestor  received 
it  gladly,  and  spake  unto  him  winged  words:  "Ay,  truly  all 
this,  my  son,  thou  hast  meetly  said;  for  no  longer  are  my 
limbs,  friend,  firm,  nor  my  feet,  nor  do  my  arms  at  all  swing 
lightly  from  my  shoulders  either  side.  Would  that  my  youth 
were  such  and  my  force  so  firm  as  when  the  Epeians  were 
burying  lord  Amarynkes  at  Buprasion,  and  his  sons  held  the 
king's  funeral  games.  Then  was  no  man  found  like  me, 
neither  of  the  Epeians  nor  of  the  Pylians  themselves  or  the 
great-hearted  Aitolians.  In  boxing  I  overcame  Klytomedes, 
son  of  Enops,  and  in  wrestling  Ankaios  of  Pleuron,  who 
stood  up  against  me,  and  in  the  foot-race  I  outran  Iphiklos,  a 
right  good  man,  and  with  the  spear  outthrew  Phyleus  and 
Polydoros;  only  in  the  chariot-race  the  two  sons  of  Aktor 
beat  me  by  crowding  their  horses  in  front  of  me,  jealous 
for  victory,  because  the  chief  prizes  were  left  at  home.  Now 
they  were  twins — one  ever  held  the  reins,  the  reins  he  ever 
held,  the  other  called  on  the  horses  with  the  lash.  Thus 
was  I  once,  but  now  let  younger  men  join  in  such  feats;  I 
must  bend  to  grievous  age,  but  then  was  I  of  mark  among 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  407 

heroes.  But  come  hold  funeral  for  thy  comrade  too  with 
games.  This  gift  do  I  accept  with  gladness,  and  my  heart 
rejoiceth  that  thou  rememberest  ever  my  friendship  to  thee 
— (nor  forget  I  thee) — and  the  honour  wherewith  it  is  meet 
that  I  be  honoured  among  the  Achaians.  And  may  the  gods 
for  this  grant  thee  due  grace." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Peleides  was  gone  down  the  full  con- 
course of  Achaians,  when  he  had  hearkened  to  all  the  thanks 
of  Neleus'  son.  Then  he  ordained  prizes  of  the  violent  box- 
ing match;  a  sturdy  mule  he  led  forth  and  tethered  amid  the 
assembly,  a  six-year  mule  unbroken,  hardest  of  all  to  break; 
and  for  the  loser  set  a  two-handled  cup.  Then  he  stood  up 
and  spake  a  word  among  the  Argives:  "Son  of  Atreus  and 
ye  other  well-greaved  Achaians,  for  these  rewards  we  sum- 
mon two  men  of  the  best  to  lift  up  their  hands  to  box  amain. 
He  to  whom  Apollo  shall  grant  endurance  to  the  end,  and  all 
the  Achaians  acknowledge  it,  let  him  take  the  sturdy  mule 
and  return  with  her  to  his  hut ;  and  the  loser  shall  take  with 
him  the  two-handled  cup." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  forthwith  arose  a  man  great  and  valiant 
and  skilled  in  boxing,  Epeios  son  of  Panopeus,  and  laid  his 
hand  on  the  sturdy  mule  and  said  aloud:  "Let  one  come 
nigh  to  bear  off  the  two-handled  cup;  the  mule  I  say  none 
other  of  the  Achaians  shall  take  for  victory  with  his  fists,  for 
I  claim  to  be  the  best  man  here.  Sufficeth  it  not  that  I  fall 
short  of  you  in  battle?  Not  possible  is  it  that  in  all  arts  a 
man  be  skilled.  Thus  proclaim  I,  and  it  shall  be  accom- 
plished :  I  will  utterly  bruise  mine  adversary's  flesh  and  break 
his  bones,  so  let  his  friends  abide  together  here  to  bear  him 
forth  when  vanquished  by  my  hands." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  all  kept  deep  silence.  And  alone 
arose  against  him  Euryalos,  a  godlike  man,  son  of  king 
Mekisteus  the  son  of  Talaos,  Mekisteus,  who  came  on  a 
time  to  Thebes  when  Oedipus  had  fallen,  to  his  burial,  and 
there  he  overcame  all  the  sons  of  Kadmos.  Thus  Tydeides 
famous  with  the  spear  made  ready  Euryalos  for  the  fight, 
cheering  him  with  speech,  and  greatly  desired  for  him  victory. 
And  first  he  cast  about  him  a  girdle,  and  next  gave  him  well- 
cut  thongs  of  the  hide  of  an  ox  of  the  field.     And  the  two 


408  HOMER 

boxers  being  girt  went  into  the  midst  of  the  ring,  and  both 
lifting  up  their  stalwart  hands  fell  to,  and  their  hands  joined 
battle  grievously.  Then  was  there  terrible  grinding  of  teetli, 
and  sweat  flowed  from  all  their  limbs.  And  noble  Epeios 
came  on,  and  as  the  other  spied  for  an  opening,  smote  him 
on  the  cheek,  nor  could  he  much  more  stand,  for  his  fair 
limbs  failed  straightway  under  him.  And  as  when  beneath 
the  North  Wind's  ripple  a  lish  leapeth  on  a  tangle-covered 
beach,  and  then  the  black  wave  hideth  it,  so  leapt  up  Euryalos 
at  that  blow.  But  great-hearted  Epeios  took  him  in  his  hands 
and  set  him  upright,  and  his  dear  comrades  stood  around  him, 
and  led  him  through  the  ring  with  trailing  feet,  spitting  out 
clotted  blood,  drooping  his  head  awry,  and  they  set  him  down 
in  his  swoon  among  them  and  themselves  went  forth  and 
fetched  the  two-handled  cup. 

Then  Peleus'  son  ordained  straightway  the  prizes  for  a 
third  contest,  offering  them  to  the  Danaans,  for  the  grievous 
wrestling  match :  for  the  winner  a  great  tripod  for  standing 
on  the  fire,  prized  by  the  Achaians  among  them  at  twelve 
oxen's  worth ;  and  for  the  loser  he  brought  a  woman  into  the 
midst,  skilled  in  manifold  work,  and  they  prized  her  at  four 
oxen.  And  he  stood  up  and  spake  a  word  among  the  Argives : 
"Rise,  ye  who  will  essay  this  match." 

Thus  said  he,  and  there  arose  great  Aias  son  of  Telamon, 
and  Odysseus  of  many  wiles  stood  up,  the  crafty-minded. 
And  the  twain  being  girt  went  into  the  midst  of  the  ring, 
and  clasped  each  the  other  in  his  arms  with  stalwart  hands, 
like  gable  rafters  of  a  lofty  house  which  some  famed  crafts- 
man joineth,  that  he  may  baffle  the  wind's  force.  And  their 
backs  creaked,  gripped  firmly  under  the  vigorous  hands,  and 
sweat  ran  down  in  streams,  and  frequent  weals  along  their 
ribs  and  shoulders  sprang  up,  red  with  blood,  while  ever  they 
strove  amain  for  victory,  to  win  the  wrought  tripod.  Neither 
could  Odysseus  trip  Aias  and  bear  him  to  the  ground,  nor 
Aias  him,  for  Odysseus'  strength  withheld  him.  But  when 
they  began  to  irk  the  well-greaved  Achaians,  then  said  to 
Odysseus  great  Aias,  Telamon's  son:  "Heaven-sprung  son 
of  Laertes,  Odysseus  of  many  wiles,  or  lift  thou  me,  or  I  will 
thee,  and  the  issue  shall  be  with  Zeus.** 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  409 

Having  thus  said  he  Hfted  him,  but  Odysseus  was  not 
unmindful  of  his  craft.  He  smote  deftly  from  behind  the 
hollow  of  Aias'  knee,  and  loosed  his  limbs,  and  threw  him 
down  backward,  and  Odysseus  fell  upon  his  chest,  and  the 
folk  gazed  and  marvelled.  Then  in  his  turn  much-enduring 
noble  Odysseus  tried  to  lift,  and  moved  him  a  little  from  the 
ground,  but  lifted  him  not,  so  he  crooked  his  knee  within  the 
other's,  and  both  fell  on  the  ground  nigh  to  each  other,  and 
were  soiled  with  dust.  And  now  starting  up  again  a  third  time 
would  they  have  wrestled,  had  not  Achilles  himself  arisen  and 
held  them  back:  "No  longer  press  each  the  other,  nor  wear 
you  out  with  pain.  Victory  is  with  both;  take  equal  prizes 
and  depart,  that  other  Achaians  may  contend." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  were  fain  to  hear  and  to  obey, 
and  wiped  the  dust  from  them  and  put  their  doublets  on. 

Then  straightway  the  son  of  Peleus  set  forth  other  prizes 
for  fleetness  of  foot;  a  mixing-bowl  of  silver,  chased;  six 
measures  it  held,  and  in  beauty  it  was  far  the  best  in  all  the 
earth,  for  artificers  of  Sidon  wrought  it  cunningly,  and  men 
of  the  Phoenicians  brought  it  over  the  misty  sea,  and  landed 
it  in  harbour,  and  gave  it  a  gift  to  Thoas ;  and  Euneos  son  of 
Jason  gave  it  to  the  hero  Patroklos  a  ransom  for  Lykaon 
Priam's  son.  Now  this  cup  did  Achilles  set  forth  as  a  prize  in 
honour  of  his  friend,  for  whoso  should  be  fleetest  in  speed  of 
foot.  For  the  second  he  set  an  ox  great  and  very  fat, 
and  for  the  last  prize  half  a  talent  of  gold.  And  he  stood 
up  and  spake  a  word  among  the  Argives :  "Rise,  ye  who  will 
essay  this  match." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  straightway  arose  fleet  Aias  Oileus' 
son,  and  Odysseus  of  many  wiles,  and  after  them  Nestor's 
son  Antilochos,  for  he  was  best  of  all  the  youth  in  the  foot- 
race. Then  they  stood  side  by  side,  and  Achilles  showed  to 
them  the  goal.  Right  eager  was  the  running  from  the  start, 
but  Oileus'  son  forthwith  shot  to  the  front,  and  close  behind 
him  came  noble  Odysseus,  as  close  as  is  a  weaving-rod  to 
a  fair-girdled  woman's  breast  when  she  pulleth  it  deftly  with 
her  hands,  drawing  the  spool  along  the  warp,  and  holdeth 
the  rod  nigh  her  breast — so  close  ran  Odysseus  behind  Aias 
and  trod  in  his  footsteps  or  ever  the  dust  had  settled  there, 


410  HOAlfeR 

and  on  his  head  fell  the  breath  of  noble  Odysseus  as  he  ran 
ever  lightly  on,  and  all  the  Achaians  applauded  his  struggle 
for  the  victory  and  called  on  him  as  he  laboured  hard.  But 
when  they  were  running  the  last  part  of  the  course,  forth- 
with Odysseus  prayed  in  his  soul  to  bright-eyed  Athene : 
"Hearken,  goddess,  come  thou  r.  good  helper  of  my  feet," 

Thus  prayed  he,  and  Pallas  Athene  hearkened  to  him, 
and  made  his  limbs  feel  light,  both  feet  and  hands.  But  when 
they  were  now  nigh  darting  on  the  prize,  then  Aias  slipped 
as  he  ran,  for  Athene  marred  his  race,  wliere  filth  was  strewn 
from  the  slaughter  of  loud-bellowing  oxen  that  fleet  Achilles 
slew  in  honour  of  Patroklos:  and  Aias'  mouth  and  nostrils 
were  filled  with  that  filth  of  oxen.  So  much-enduring  noble 
Odysseus,  as  he  came  in  first,  took  up  the  mixing-bowl,  and 
famous  Aias  took  the  ox.  And  he  stood  holding  in  his  hand 
the  horn  of  the  ox  of  the  field,  sputtering  away  the  filth, 
and  spake  among  the  Argives:  "Out  on  it,  it  was  the  god- 
dess who  marred  my  running,  she  who  from  of  old  like  a 
mother  standeth  by  Odysseus'  side  and  helpeth  him." 

So  spake  he,  but  they  all  laughed  pleasantly  to  behold 
him.  Then  Antilochos  smiling  bore  off  the  last  prize,  and 
spake  his  word  among  the  Argives:  "Friends,  ye  will  all  bear 
me  witness  when  I  say  that  even  herein  also  the  immortals 
favour  elder  men.  For  Aias  is  a  little  older  than  I,  but 
Odysseus  of  an  earlier  generation  and  earlier  race  of  men.  A 
green  old  age  is  his,  they  say,  and  hard  were  it  for  any  Acha- 
ian  to  rival  him  in  speed,  save  only  Achilles." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  gave  honour  to  the  fleet  son  of  Peleus. 
And  Achilles  answered  him  and  said:  "Antilochos,  not 
unheeded  shall  thy  praise  be  given;  a  half-talent  of  gold  I 
will  give  thee  over  and  above."  He  said,  and  set  it  in  his 
hands,  and  Antilochos  received  it  gladly. 

Then  Peleus'  son  brought  a  long-shadowed  spear  into 
the  ring  and  laid  it  there,  and  a  shield  and  helmet,  the  arms 
of  Sarpedon  whereof  Patroklos  spoiled  him.  And  he  stood 
up  and  spake  a  word  among  the  Argives:  "To  win  these 
arms  we  bid  two  warriors  of  the  best  put  on  their  armour  and 
take  flesh-cleaving  bronze  to  make  trial  of  each  other  before 
the  host  whether  of  the  two  shall  first  reach  .the  other's  fair 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIII  411 

flesh  and  touch  the  inward  parts  through  armour  and  dark 
blood.  To  him  will  I  give  this  silver-studded  sword,  a  goodly 
Thracian  sword  that  I  took  from  Asteropaios ;  and  these  arms 
let  both  bear  away  to  hold  in  common,  and  r,  fair  feast  will 
we  set  before  them  in  the  huts." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  then  arose  Telamon's  son  great  Aias, 
and  up  rose  Tydeus'  son,  stalwart  Diomedes.  So  when  on 
either  side  the  assembly  they  had  armed  them,  they  met 
together  in  the  midst  eager  for  battle,  with  terrible  gaze;  and 
wonder  fell  on  all  the  Achaians.  But  when  they  were  now 
nigh  in  onset  on  each  other,  thrice  they  came  on  and  thrice 
drew  nigh  to  smite.  Then  Aias  smote  on  the  round  shield, 
but  pierced  not  to  the  flesh,  for  the  breast-plate  within  kept 
off  the  spear.  But  the  son  of  Tydeus  over  his  great  shield 
kept  ever  aiming  at  the  neck  with  the  point  of  his  bright 
spear.  Then  fearing  for  Aias  the  Achaians  bade  them  cease 
and  each  take  equal  prize.  But  to  Tydeus'  son  the  hero  gave 
the  great  sword,  bringing  it  with  its  scabbard  and  well-cut  belt. 

Then  the  son  of  Peleus  set  an  unwrought  metal  mass 
which  anciently  the  mighty  Eetion  was  wont  to  whirl;  but 
him  fleet  noble  Achilles  slew,  and  brought  the  mass  in  his 
ships  with  his  other  possessions.  And  he  stood  up  and  spake  a 
word  among  the  Argives :  "Rise,  ye  who  will  essay  this  match. 
The  winner  of  this,  even  though  his  rich  fields  be  very  far 
remote,  will  have  it  for  use  five  rolling  years,  for  his  shepherd 
or  ploughman  will  not  for  want  of  iron  have  to  go  into  the 
town,  but  this  will  give  it  them." 

Thus  said  he,  and  then  arose  warlike  Polypoites,  and  the 
valiant  strength  of  godlike  Leonteus,  and  Aias  son  of  Tela- 
mon  and  noble  Epeios.  And  they  stood  in  order,  and  noble 
Epeios  took  the  weight,  and  whirled  and  flung  it;  and  all  the 
Achaians  laughed  to  see  it.  Then  next  Leonteus,  of  the  stock 
of  Ares,  threw;  and  thirdly  great  Aias  Telamon's  son  hurled 
it  from  his  stalwart  hand,  and  overpassed  the  marks  of  all. 
But  when  warlike  Polypoites  took  the  mass  he  flung  it  as  far 
as  a  herdsman  flingeth  his  staff,  when  it  flieth  whirling  through 
herds  of  kine; — so  far  cast  he  beyond  all  the  space,  and  the 
people  shouted  aloud.  And  the  comrades  of  strong  Polypoites 
arose  and  bare  the  king's  prize  to  the  hollow  ships. 


412  HOMER 

Then  for  the  archers  he  set  a  prize  of  dark  iron — ten 
double-headed  axes  he  set,  and  ten  single;  and  set  up  the 
mast  of  a  dark-prowed  ship  far  off  in  the  sands,  and  bound 
a  pigeon  thereto  by  the  foot  with  a  fine  cord,  and  made  shoot 
thereat : — "Whosoever  shall  hit  the  pigeon  let  him  take  all  the 
double  axes  home  with  him,  and  whoso  shall  miss  the  bird  but 
hit  the  cord,  he  shall  take  the  single,  since  his  shot  is  worse." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  then  arose  the  strength  of  the  chief 
Teukros,  and  Meriones  arose,  Idomeneus'  brave  brother  in 
arms.  And  they  took  lots  and  shook  them  in  a  brazen  helm, 
and  Teukros  drew  the  first  place  by  lot.  Forthwith  he  shot 
an  arrow  with  power,  but  made  no  vow  to  offer  a  famous 
hecatomb  of  firstling  lambs  to  the  Lord  of  archery.  The 
bird  he  missed — Apollo  grudged  him  that — but  struck  the 
cord  beside  its  foot,  where  the  bird  was  tied,  and  the  keen 
dart  cut  the  cord  clean  away.  Then  the  bird  shot  up  toward 
heaven,  and  the  cord  hung  loose  toward  earth ;  and  the  Acha- 
ians  shouted.  Then  Meriones  made  haste  and  took  from 
Teukros'  hand  the  bow; — an  arrow  he  had  ready,  while  the 
other  aimed — and  vowed  withal  to  far-darting  Apollo  a 
famous  hecatomb  of  firstling  lambs.  High  up  under  the 
clouds  he  saw  the  pigeon ;  there,  as  she  circled  round,  he  struck 
her  in  the  midst  beneath  her  wing,  and  right  through  her  went 
the  dart,  and  fell  back  and  fixed  itself  in  the  ground  before 
Meriones'  foot ;  but  the  bird  lighting  on  the  mast  of  the  dark- 
prowed  ship  hung  down  her  neck,  and  her  feathered  pinions 
drooped.  And  quickly  life  fled  from  her  limbs,  and  she  fell 
far  down  from  the  mast;  and,- the  folk  looked  on  and  mar- 
velled. And  Meriones  took  up  all  the  ten  double  axes,  and 
Teukros  bare  the  single  to  the  hollow  ships. 

Then  Peleus'  son  brought  and  set  in  the  ring  a  far- 
shadowing  spear  and  a  caldron  that  knew  not  the  fire,  an 
ox's  worth,  embossed  with  flowers ;  and  men  that  were  casters 
of  the  javelin  arose  up.  There  rose  Atreus'  son  wide-ruling 
Agamemnon,  and  Meriones,  Idomeneus'  brave  squire.  And 
swift-footed  noble  Achilles  spake  among  them:  "Son  of 
Atreus,  for  that  we  know  how  far  thou  excellest  all,  and  how 
far  the  first  thou  art  in  the  might  of  thy  throw,  take  thou  this 
prize  with  thee  to  the  hollow  ships,  and  to  the  hero  Meriones 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  413 

let  us  give  the  spear,  if  thou  art  willing  in  thy  heart;  thus  I 
at  least  advise." 

Thus  spake  he,  nor  disregarded  him  Agamemnon  king  of 
men.  So  to  Meriones  he  gave  the  spear  of  bronze,  but  to  the 
herald  Talthybios  the  hero  gave  the  goodliest  prize. 


BOOK  XXIV 

How  the  body  of  Hector  was  ransomed,  and  of  his  funeral. 

Then  the  assembly  was  broken  up,  and  the  tribes  were 
scattered  to  betake  them  each  to  their  own  swift  ships.  The 
rest  bethought  them  of  supper  and  sweet  sleep  to  have  joy 
thereof;  but  Achilles  wept,  remembering  his  dear  comrade,  nor 
did  sleep  that  conquereth  all  take  hold  on  him,  but  he  kept 
turning  him  to  this  side  and  to  that,  yearning  for  Patroklos' 
manhood  and  excellent  valour,  and  all  the  toils  he  achieved 
with  him  and  the  woes  he  bare,  cleaving  the  battles  of  men  and 
the  grievous  waves.  As  he  thought  thereon  he  shed  big  tears, 
now  lying  on  his  side,  now  on  his  back,  now  on  his  face ;  and 
then  anon  he  would  arise  upon  his  feet  and  roam  wildly  beside 
the  beach  of  the  salt  sea.  Nor  would  he  be  unaware  of  the 
Dawn  when  she  arose  over  the  sea  and  shores.  But  when  he 
had  yoked  the  swift  steeds  to  his  car  he  would  bind  Hector 
behind  his  chariot  to  drag  him  withal;  and  having  thrice 
drawn  him  round  the  barrow  of  the  dead  son  of  Menoitios  he 
rested  again  in  his  hut,  and  left  Hector  lying  stretched  on  his 
face  in  the  dust.  But  Apollo  kept  away  all  defacement  from 
his  flesh,  for  he  had  pity  on  him  even  in  death,  and  covered  him 
all  with  his  golden  aegis,  that  Achilles  might  not  tear  him  when 
he  dragged  him. 

Thus  Achilles  in  his  anger  entreated  noble  Hector  shame- 
fully; but  the  blessed  gods  when  they  beheld  him  pitied  him, 
and  urged  the  clear-sighted  slayer  of  Argus  to  steal  the  corpse 
away.  So  to  all  the  others  seemed  it  good,  yet  not  to  Hera  or 
Poseidon  or  the  bright-eyed  Maiden,  but  they  continued  as 


414  HOMER 

when  at  the  beginning  sacred  Ilios  became  hateful  to  them,  and 
Priam  and  his  people,  by  reason  of  the  sin  of  Alexandres  in 
that  he  contemned  those  goddesses  when  they  came  to  his 
steading,  and  preferred  her  who  brought  him  deadly  lust  ful- 
ness. But  when  the  twelfth  morn  from  that  day  arose,  then 
spake  among  the  Immortals  Phoebus  Apollo :  "Hard  of  heart 
are  ye,  O  gods,  and  cruel.  Hath  Hector  never  burnt  for  you 
thigh-bones  of  unblemished  bulls  and  goats?  Now  have  ye 
not  taken  heart  to  rescue  even  his  corpse  for  his  wife  to  look 
upon  and  his  mother  and  his  child  and  his  father  Priam  and 
his  people,  who  speedily  would  burn  him  in  the  fire  and  make 
his  funeral.  But  fell  Achilles,  O  gods,  ye  are  fain  to  abet, 
whose  mind  is  nowise  just  nor  the  purpose  in  his  breast  to  be 
turned  away,  but  he  is  cruelly  minded  as  a  lion  that  in  great 
strength  and  at  the  bidding  of  his  proud  heart  goeth  forth 
against  men's  flocks  to  make  his  meal ;  even  thus  Achilles  hath 
cast  out  pity,  neither  hath  he  shame,  that  doth  both  harm  and 
profit  men  greatly.  It  must  be  that  many  a  man  lose  even 
some  dearer  one  than  was  this,  a  brother  of  the  same  womb 
born  or  perchance  a  son;  yet  bringeth  he  his  wailing  and 
lamentation  to  an  end,  for  an  enduring  soul  have  the  Fates 
given  unto  men.  But  Achilles  after  bereaving  noble  Hector 
of  his  life  bindeth  him  behind  his  horses  and  draggeth  him 
around  the  tomb  of  his  dear  comrade :  not,  verily,  is  that  more 
honourable  or  better  for  him.  Let  him  take  heed  lest  we  wax 
wroth  with  him,  good  man  though  he  be,  for  in  his  fury  he  is 
entreating  shamefully  the  senseless  clay." 

Then  in  anger  spake  unto  him  white-armed  Hera:  "Even 
thus  mightest  thou  speak,  O  Lord  of  the  silver  bow,  if  ye  are 
to  give  equal  honour  to  Achilles  and  to  Hector.  Hector  is  but 
a  mortal  and  was  suckled  at  a  woman's  breast,  but  Achilles  is 
child  of  a  goddess  whom  I  myself  bred  up  and  reared  and  gave 
to  a  man  to  be  his  wife,  even  to  Peleus  who  was  dearest  of  all 
men  to  the  Immortals'  heart.  And  all  ye  gods  came  to  her 
bridal,  and  thou  among  them  wert  feasting  with  thy  lyre,  O 
lover  of  ill  company,  faithless  ever." 

Then  to  her  in  answer  spake  Zeus  who  gathereth  the  clouds : 
"Hera,  be  not  wroth  utterly  with  the  gods:  for  these  men's 
honour  is  not  to  be  the  same,  yet  Hector  also  was  dearest  to 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  415 

the  gods  of  all  mortals  that  are  in  Ilios.  So  was  he  to  me  at 
least,  for  nowise  failed  he  in  the  gifts  I  loved.  Never  did  my 
altar  lack  seemly  feast,  drink-offering  and  the  steam  of  sacri- 
fice, even  the  honour  that  falleth  to  our  due.  But  verily  we 
will  say  no  more  of  stealing  away  brave  Hector,  for  it  cannot 
be  hidden  from  Achilles,  for  his  mother  abideth  ever  nigh  to 
him  night  and  day.  But  I  were  fain  that  some  one  of  the 
gods  would  call  Thetis  to  come  near  to  me,  that  I  may  speak 
unto  her  a  wise  word,  so  that  Achilles  may  take  gifts  from 
Priam  and  give  Hector  back." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  airy-footed  Iris  sped  forth  upon  the 
errand  and  between  Samothrace  and  rocky  Imbros  leapt  into 
the  black  sea,  and  the  waters  closed  above  her  with  a  noise. 
And  she  sped  to  the  bottom  like  a  weight  of  lead  that  mounted 
on  horn  of  a  field-ox  goeth  down  bearing  death  to  ravenous 
fishes.  And  she  found  Thetis  in  a  hollow  cave ;  about  her  sat 
gathered  other  goddesses  of  the  sea,  and  she  in  their  midst  was 
wailing  for  the  fate  of  her  noble  son  who  must  perish  in  deep- 
soiled  Troy,  far  from  his  native  land.  And  standing  near, 
fleet-footed  Iris  spake  to  her:  "Rise,  Thetis;  Zeus  of  im- 
mortal counsels  calleth  thee." 

And  to  her  made  answer  Thetis  the  silver- footed  goddess : 
"Wherefore  biddeth  me  that  mighty  god?  I  shrink  from 
mingling  among  the  Immortals,  for  I  have  countless  woes  at 
heart.  Yet  go  I,  nor  shall  his  word  be  in  vain,  whatsoever  he 
saith." 

Thus  having  said  the  noble  goddess  took  to  her  a  darkhued 
robe,  no  blacker  raiment  was  there  found  than  that.  Then  she 
went  forth,  and  wind- footed  swift  Iris  led  the  way  before  her, 
and  around  them  the  surge  of  the  sea  was  sundered.  And  when 
they  had  come  forth  upon  the  shore  they  sped  up  to  heaven, 
and  found  the  far-seeing  son  of  Kronos,  and  round  him  sat 
gathered  all  the  other  blessed  gods  that  are  for  ever.  Then 
she  sat  down  beside  father  Zeus,  and  Athene  gave  her  place. 
And  Hera  set  a  fair  golden  cup  in  her  hand  and  cheered  her 
with  words,  and  Thetis  drank,  and  gave  back  the  cup.  Then 
began  speech  to  them  the  father  of  gods  and  men :  "Thou  art 
come  to  Olympus,  divine  Thetis,  in  thy  sorrow,  with  violent 
grief  at  thy  heart ;  I  know  it  of  myself.     Nevertheless  will  I 


416  HOMER 

tell  thee  wherefore  I  called  thee  hither.  Nine  days  hath  dis- 
pute arisen  among  the  Immortals  concerning  the  corpse  of 
Hector  and  Achilles  waster  of  cities.  Fain  are  they  to  send 
clear-sighted  Argeiphontes  to  steal  the  body  away,  but  now 
hear  what  glory  I  accord  herein  to  Achilles,  that  I  may  keep 
through  times  to  come  thy  honour  and  good  will.  Go  with  all 
speed  to  the  host  and  bear  to  thy  son  my  bidding.  Say  to  him 
that  the  gods  are  displeased  at  him,  and  that  I  above  all  Im- 
mortals am  wroth,  because  with  furious  heart  he  holdeth  Hec- 
tor at  the  beaked  ships  and  hath  not  given  him  back,  if  haply 
he  may  fear  me  and  give  Hector  back.  But  I  will  send  Iris  to 
great-hearted  Priam  to  bid  him  go  to  the  ships  of  the  Achaians 
to  ransom  his  dear  son,  and  carry  gifts  to  Achilles  that  may 
gladden  his  heart." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  Thetis  the  silver- footed  goddess  was 
not  disobedient  to  his  word,  and  sped  darting  upon  her  way 
down  from  the  peaks  of  Olympus.  And  she  came  to  her  son's 
hut ;  there  found  she  him  making  grievous  moan,  and  his  dear 
comrades  round  were  swiftly  making  ready  and  furnishing 
their  early  meal,  and  a  sheep  great  and  fleecy  was  being  sacri- 
ficed in  the  hut.  Then  his  lady-mother  sate  her  down  close  be- 
side him,  and  stroked  him  with  her  hand  and  spake  to  him  by 
his  name:  "My  child,  how  long  with  lamentation  and  woe 
wilt  thou  devour  thine  heart,  taking  thought  of  neither  food 
nor  rest?  good  were  even  a  woman's  embrace,  for  not  long 
shalt  thou  be  left  alive  to  me;  already  death  and  forceful  fate 
are  standing  nigh  thee.  But  hearken  forthwith  unto  me,  for  I 
am  the  messenger  of  Zeus  to  thee.  He  saith  that  the  gods  are 
displeased  at  thee,  and  that  himself  above  all  Immortals  is 
wroth,  because  with  furious  heart  thou  boldest  Hector  at  the 
beaked  ships  and  hast  not  given  him  back.  But  come  restore 
him,  and  take  ransom  for  the  dead." 

Then  to  her  in  answer  spake  fleet-footed  Achilles:  "So 
be  it :  whoso  bringeth  ransom  let  him  take  back  the  dead,  if 
verily  with  heart's  intent  the  Olympian  biddeth  it  himself." 

So  they  in  the  assembly  of  the  ships,  mother  and  son,  spake 
to  each  other  many  winged  words.  But  the  son  of  Kronos 
thus  bade  Iris  go  to  Holy  Ilios:  "Go  forth,  fleet  Iris,  leave 
the  abode  of  Olympus  and  bear  my  message  within  Ilios  to 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  417 

great-hearted  Priam  that  he  go  to  the  ships  of  the  Achaians 
and  ransom  his  dear  son  and  carry  gifts  to  Achilles  that  may 
gladden  his  heart ;  let  him  go  alone,  and  no  other  man  of  the 
Trojans  go  with  him.  Only  let  some  elder  herald  attend  on 
him  to  guide  the  mules  and  smooth-wheeled  waggon  and  carry 
back  to  the  city  the  dead  man  whom  noble  Achilles  slew.  Let 
not  death  be  in  his  thought  nor  any  fear ;  such  guide  will  we 
give  unto  him,  even  the  slayer  of  Argus,  who  shall  lead  him 
until  his  leading  bring  him  to  Achilles.  And  when  he  shall 
have  led  him  within  the  hut,  neither  shall  Achilles  himself  slay 
him  nor  suffer  any  other  herein,  for  not  senseless  is  he  or  un- 
foreseeing  or  wicked,  but  with  all  courtesy  he  will  spare  a  sup- 
pliant man." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  airy-footed  Iris  sped  forth  upon  the 
errand.  And  she  came  to  the  house  of  Priam,  and  found 
therein  crying  and  moan.  His  children  sitting  around  their 
father  within  the  court  were  bedewing  their  raiment  with  their 
tears,  and  the  old  man  in  their  midst  was  close  wrapped  all 
over  in  his  cloak ;  and  on  his  head  and  neck  was  much  mire  that 
he  had  gathered  in  his  hands  as  he  grovelled  upon  the  earth. 
And  his  daughters  and  his  sons'  wives  were  wailing  through- 
out the  house,  bethinking  them  of  all  those  valiant  men  who 
had  lost  their  lives  at  the  hands  of  the  Argives  and  were  lying 
low.  And  the  messenger  of  Zeus  stood  beside  Priam  and 
spake  softly  unto  him,  and  trembling  came  upon  his  limbs: 
"Be  of  good  cheer  in  thy  heart,  O  Priam  son  of  Dardanos,  and 
be  not  dismayed  for  anything,  for  no  evil  come  I  hither  to 
forebode  to  thee,  but  with  good  will.  I  am  the  messenger  of 
Zeus  to  thee,  who,  though  he  be  afar  off,  hath  great  care 
and  pity  for  thee.  The  Olympian  biddeth  thee  ransom  noble 
Hector  and  carry  gifts  to  Achilles  that  may  gladden  his  heart: 
go  thou  alone,  let  pone  other  of  the  Trojans  go  with  thee. 
Only  let  some  elder  herald  attend  on  thee  to  guide  the  mules 
and  the  smooth-wheeled  waggon  to  carry  back  to  the  city  the 
dead  man  whom  noble  Achilles  slew.  Let  not  death  be  in  thy 
thought,  nor  any  fear;  such  guide  shall  go  with  thee,  even  the 
slayer  of  Argus,  who  shall  lead  thee  until  his  leading  bring 
thee  to  Achilles.  And  when  he  shall  have  led  thee  into  the 
hut,  neither  shall  Achilles  himself  slay  thee  nor  suffer  any  other 


418  HOMER 

herein,  for  not  senseless  is  he  or  unforeseeing  or  wicked,  but 
with  all  courtesy  he  will  spare  a  suppliant  man." 

Thus  having  spoken  fleet  Iris  departed  from  him;  and  he 
bade  his  sons  make  ready  the  smooth-wheeled  mule  waggon, 
and  bind  the  wicker  carriage  thereon.  And  himself  he  went 
down  to  his  fragrant  chamber,  of  cedar  wood,  high-roofed, 
that  held  full  many  jewels:  and  to  Hekabe  his  wife  he  called 
and  spake:  "Lady,  from  Zeus  hath  an  Olympian  messenger 
come  to  me,  that  I  go  to  the  ships  of  the  Achaians  and  ransom 
my  dear  son,  and  carry  gifts  to  Achilles  that  may  gladden  his 
heart.  Come  tell  me  how  seemeth  it  to  thy  mind,  for  of  my- 
self at  least  my  desire  and  heart  bid  me  mightily  to  go  thither 
to  the  ships  and  enter  the  wide  camp  of  the  Achaians." 

Thus  spake  he,  but  his  wife  lamented  aloud  and  made  an- 
swer unto  him :  "Woe  is  me,  whither  is  gone  thy  mind  where- 
by aforetime  thou  wert  famous  among  stranger  men  and 
among  them  thou  rulest?  How  art  thou  fain  to  go  alone  to 
the  ships  of  the  Achaians,  to  meet  the  eyes  of  the  man  who 
hath  slain  full  many  of  thy  brave  sons?  of  iron  verily  is  thy 
heart.  For  if  he  light  on  thee  and  behold  thee  with  his  eyes, 
a  savage  and  ill-trusted  man  is  this,  and  he  will  not  pity  thee, 
neither  reverence  thee  at  all.  Nay,  now  let  us  sit  in  the  hall 
and  make  lament  afar  off.  Even  thus  did  forceful  Fate  erst 
spin  for  Hector  with  her  thread  at  his  beginning,  when  I  bare 
him,  even  I,  that  he  should  glut  fleet-footed  dogs,  far  from 
his  parents,  in  the  dwelling  of  a  violent  man  whose  inmost 
vitals  I  were  fain  to  fasten  and  feed  upon ;  then  would  his  deeds 
against  my  son  be  paid  again  to  him,  for  not  playing  the 
coward  was  he  slain  of  him,  but  championing  the  men  and 
deep-bosomed  women  of  Troy,  neither  bethought  he  him  of 
shelter  or  of  flight." 

Then  to  her  in  answer  spake  the  old  man  godlike  Priam: 
"Stay  me  not,  for  I  am  fain  to  go,  neither  be  thyself  a  bird  of 
ill  boding  in  my  halls,  for  thou  wilt  not  change  my  mind. 
Were  it  some  other  and  a  child  of  earth  that  bade  me  this, 
whether  some  seer  or  of  the  priests  that  divine  from  sacrifice, 
then  would  we  declare  it  false  and  have  no  part  therein ;  but 
now,  since  I  have  heard  the  voice  of  the  goddess  myself  and 
looked  upon  her  face,  I  will  go  forth,  and  her  word  shall  not 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  419 

be  void.  And  if  it  be  my  fate  to  die  by  the  ships  of  the  mail- 
clad  Achaians,  so  would  I  have  it ;  let  Achilles  slay  me  with  all 
speed,  when  once  I  have  taken  in  my  arms  my  son,  and  have 
satisfied  my  desire  with  moan." 

He  spake,  and  opened  fair  lids  of  chests  wherefrom  he 
chose  twelve  very  goodly  women's  robes  and  twelve  cloaks  of 
single  fold  and  of  coverlets  a  like  number  and  of  fair  sheets, 
and  of  doublets  thereupon.  And  he  weighed  and  brought 
forth  talents  of  gold  ten  in  all,  and  two  shining  tripods  and 
four  caldrons,  and  a  goblet  exceeding  fair  that  men  of  Thrace 
had  given  him  when  he  went  thither  on  an  embassy,  a  chattel  of 
great  price,  yet  not  that  even  did  the  old  man  grudge  from  his 
halls,  for  he  was  exceeding  fain  at  heart  to  ransom  his  dear 
son.  Then  he  drave  out  all  the  Trojans  from  the  colonnade, 
chiding  them  with  words  of  rebuke:  "Begone,  ye  that  dis- 
honour and  do  me  shame !  Have  ye  no  mourning  of  your  own 
at  home  that  ye  come  to  vex  me  here?  Think  ye  it  a  small 
thing  that  Zeus  Kronos'  son  hath  given  me  this  sorrow,  to  lose 
him  that  was  the  best  man  of  my  sons?  Nay,  but  ye  too  shall 
feel  it,  for  easier  far  shall  ye  be  to  the  Achaians  to  slay  now 
he  is  dead.  But  for  me,  ere  I  behold  with  mine  eyes  the  city 
sacked  and  wasted,  let  me  go  down  into  the  house  of  Hades." 

He  said,  and  with  his  staff  chased  forth  the  men,  and  they 
went  forth  before  the  old  man  in  his  haste.  Then  he  called 
unto  his  sons,  chiding  Helenos  and  Paris  and  noble  Agathon 
and  Pammon  and  Antiphonos,  and  Polites  of  the  loud  war-cry, 
and  Deiphobos  and  Hippothoos  and  proud  Dios ;  nine  were  they 
whom  the  old  man  called  and  bade  unto  him:  "Haste  ye,  ill 
sons,  my  shame ;  would  that  ye  all  in  Hector's  stead  had  been 
slain  at  the  swift  ships!  Woe  is  me  all  unblest,  since  I  begat 
sons  the  best  men  in  wide  Troy-land,  but  none  of  them  is  left 
for  me  to  claim,  neither  godlike  Mestor,  nor  Troilos  with  his 
chariot  of  war,  nor  Hector  who  was  a  god  among  men,  neither 
seemed  he  as  the  son  of  a  mortal  man  but  of  a  god : — all  these 
hath  Ares  slain,  and  here  are  my  shames  all  left  to  me,  false- 
tongued,  light-heeled,  the  heroes  of  the  dance,  plunderous  of 
your  own  people's  sheep  and  kids.  Will  ye  not  make  me  ready 
a  wain  with  all  speed,  and  lay  all  these  thereon,  that  we  get  us 
forward  on  our  way  ?" 


420  HOMER 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  fearing  their  father's  voice 
brought  forth  the  smooth-running  mule  chariot,  fair  and  new, 
and  bound  the  body  thereof  on  the  frame;  and  from  its  peg 
they  took  down  the  mule  yoke,  a  boxwood  yoke  with  knob  well 
fitted  with  guiding-rings;  and  they  brought  forth  the  yoke- 
band  of  nine  cubits  with  the  yoke.  The  yoke  they  set  firmly 
on  the  polished  pole  on  the  rest  at  the  end  thereof,  and  slipped 
the  ring  over  the  upright  pin,  which  with  three  turns  of  the 
band  they  lashed  to  the  knob,  and  then  belayed  it  close  round 
the  pole  and  turned  the  tongue  thereunder.  Then  they  brought 
from  the  chamber  and  heaped  on  the  polished  wain  the  count- 
less ransom  of  Hector's  head,  and  yoked  strong-hooved  har- 
ness mules,  which  on  a  time  the  Mysians  gave  to  Priam,  a 
splendid  gift.  But  to  Priam's  car  they  yoked  the  horses  that 
the  old  man  kept  for  his  use  and  reared  at  the  polished  crib. 

Thus  in  the  high  palace  were  Priam  and  the  herald  letting 
yoke  their  cars,  with  wise  thoughts  at  their  hearts,  when  nigh 
them  came  Hekabe  sore  at  heart,  with  honey-sweet  wine  in  her 
right  hand  in  a  golden  cup  that  they  might  make  libation  ere 
they  went.  And  she  stood  before  the  horses  and  spake  a  word 
to  Priam  by  name:  "Lo  now  make  libation  to  father  Zeus 
and  pray  that  thou  mayest  come  back  home  from  among  the 
enemy,  since  thy  heart  speedeth  thee  forth  to  the  ships,  though 
fain  were  I  thou  wentest  not.  And  next  pray  to  Kronion  of 
the  Storm-cloud,  the  god  of  Ida,  that  beholdeth  all  Troy-land 
beneath,  and  ask  of  him  a  bird  of  omen,  even  the  swift  mes- 
senger that  is  dearest  of  all  birds  to  him  and  of  mightiest 
strength,  to  appear  upon  thy  right,  that  seeing  the  sign  with 
thine  own  eyes  thou  mayest  go  in  trust  thereto  unto  the  ships 
of  the  fleet-horsed  Danaans.  But  if  far-seeing  Zeus  shall  not 
grant  unto  thee  his  messenger,  I  at  least  shall  not  bid  thee  on 
to  go  among  the  ships  of  the  Achaians  how  fain  soever  thou 
mayest  be." 

Then  answered  and  spake  unto  her  godlike  Priam :  "Lady 
I  will  not  disregard  this  best  of  thine,  for  good  it  is  to  lift  up 
hands  to  Zeus,  if  haply  he  will  have  pity." 

Thus  spake  the  old  man,  and  bade  a  house-dame  that 
served  him  pour  pure  water  on  his  hands ;  and  she  came  near 
to  serve  him  with  water  in  a  ewer  to  wash  withal.     And  when 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  421 

he  had  washed  his  hands  he  took  a  goblet  from  his  wife;  then 
he  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  court  and  prayed  and  poured  forth 
wine  as  he  looked  up  to  heaven,  and  spake  a  word  aloud: 
"Father  Zeus  that  bearest  sway  from  Ida,  most  glorious  and 
most  great,  grant  that  I  find  welcome  and  pity  under  Achilles' 
roof,  and  send  a  bird  of  omen,  even  the  swift  messenger  that 
is  dearest  of  all  birds  to  thee  and  of  mightiest  strength,  to 
appear  upon  the  right,  that  seeing  this  sign  with  mine  own 
eyes  I  may  go  trusting  therein  unto  the  ships  of  fleet-horsed 
Danaans." 

Thus  spake  he  praying,  and  Zeus  of  wise  counsels  heark- 
ened unto  him,  and  straightway  sent  forth  an  eagle,  surest 
omen  of  winged  birds,  the  dusky  hunter  called  of  men  the 
Black  Eagle.  Wide  as  the  door,  well  locking,  fitted  close,  of 
some  rich  man's  high-roofed  hall,  so  wide  were  his  wings  either 
way ;  and  he  appeared  to  them  speeding  on  the  right  hand  above 
the  city.  And  when  they  saw  the  eagle  they  rejoiced  and  all 
their  hearts  were  glad  within  their  breasts. 

Then  the  old  man  made  haste  to  go  up  into  his  car,  and 
drave  forth  from  the  doorway  and  the  echoing  portico.  In 
front  the  mules  drew  the  four-wheeled  wain,  and  wise  Idaios 
drave  them ;  behind  came  the  horses  which  the  old  man  urged 
with  the  lash  at  speed  along  the  city:  and  his  friends  all  fol- 
lowed lamenting  loud  as  though  he  were  faring  to  his  death. 
And  when  they  were  come  down  from  the  city  and  were  now 
on  the  plain,  then  went  back  again  to  Ilios  his  sons  and  mar- 
riage kin.  But  the  two  coming  forth  upon  the  plain  were  not 
unbeheld  of  far-seeing  Zeus.  But  he  looked  upon  the  old  man 
and  had  compassion  on  him,  and  straightway  spake  unto  Her- 
mes his  dear  son:  "Hermes,  since  unto  thee  especially  is  it 
dear  to  companion  men,  and  thou  hearest  whomsoever  thou 
wilt,  go  forth  and  so  guide  Priam  to  the  hollow  ships  of  the 
Achaians  that  no  man  behold  or  be  aware  of  him,  among  all 
the  Danaans'  host,  until  he  come  to  the  son  of  Peleus." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  Messenger,  the  slayer  of  Argus,  was 
not  disobedient  unto  his  word.  Straightway  beneath  his  feet 
he  bound  on  his  fair  sandals,  golden,  divine,  that  bare  him  over 
the  wet  sea  and  over  the  boundless  land  with  the  breathings  of 
the  wind.     And  he  took  up  his  wand  wherewith  he  entranceth 


422  HOMER 

the  eyes  of  such  men  as  he  will,  and  others  he  likewise  waketh 
out  of  sleep:  this  did  the  strong  slayer  of  Argus  take  in  his 
hand,  and  flew.  And  quickly  came  he  to  Troy-land  and  the 
Hellespont,  and  went  on  his  way  in  semblance  as  a  young  man 
that  is  a  prince,  with  the  new  down  on  his  chin,  as  when  the 
youth  of  men  is  the  comeliest. 

Now  the  others,  when  they  had  driven  beyond  the  great 
barrow  of  Ilios,  halted  the  mules  and  horses  at  the  river  to 
drink ;  for  darkness  was  come  down  over  the  earth.  Then  the 
herald  beheld  Hermes  from  hard  by,  and  marked  him,  and 
spake  and  said  to  Priam:  "Consider,  son  of  Dardanos;  this  is 
matter  of  prudent  thought.  I  see  a  man,  methinks  we  shall 
full  soon  be  rent  in  pieces.  Come,  let  us  flee  in  our  chariot,  or 
else  at  least  touch  his  knees  and  entreat  him  that  he  have  mercy 
on  us." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  old  man  was  confounded,  and  he 
was  dismayed  exceedingly,  and  the  hair  on  his  pliant  limbs 
stood  up,  and  he  stood  still  amazed.  But  the  Helper  came 
nigh  of  himself  and  took  the  old  man's  hand,  and  spake  and 
questioned  him  :  "Whither,  father,  dost  thou  thus  guide  these 
horses  and  mules  through  the  divine  night,  when  other  mortals 
are  asleep  ?  Hadst  thou  no  fear  of  the  fierce-breathing  Achai- 
ans,  thy  bitter  foes  that  are  hard  anigh  thee?  If  one  of  them 
should  espy  thee  carrying  such  treasures  through  the  swift 
black  night,  what  theii  would  be  thy  thought?  Neither  art 
thou  young  thyself,  and  thy  companion  here  is  old,  that  ye 
should  make  defence  against  a  man  that  should  assail  thee 
first.  But  I  will  no  wise  harm  thee,  yea  I  will  keep  any  other 
from  thy  hurt :  for  the  similitude  of  my  dear  father  I  see  in 
thee.'* 

And  to  him  in  answer  spake  the  old  man,  godlike  Priam : 
"Even  so,  kind  son,  are  all  these  things  as  thou  sayest.  Never- 
theless hath  some  god  stretched  forth  his  hand  even  over  me  in 
that  he  hath  sent  a  wayfarer  such  as  thou  to  meet  me,  a  bearer 
of  good  luck,  by  the  nobleness  of  thy  form  and  semblance ;  and 
thou  art  wise  of  heart  and  of  blessed  parents  art  thou  sprung." 

And  to  him  again  spake  the  Messenger,  the  slayer  of  Argus : 
"All  this,  old  sire,  hast  thou  verily  spoken  aright.  But  come 
say  this  and  tell  me  truly  whether  thou  art  taking  forth  a  great 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  423 

and  goodly  treasure  unto  alien  men,  where  it  may  abide  for 
thee  in  safety,  or  whether  by  this  ye  are  all  forsaking  holy  Ilios 
in  fear;  so  far  the  best  man  among  you  hath  perished,  even 
thy  son ;  for  of  battle  with  the  Achaians  abated  he  never  a  jot." 

And  to  him  in  answer  spake  the  old  man,  godlike  Priam: 
"Who  art  thou,  noble  sir,  and  of  whom  art  born?  For  meetly 
hast  thou  spoken  of  the  fate  of  my  hapless  son." 

And  to  him  again  spake  the  Messenger,  the  slayer  of  Argus : 
"Thou  art  proving  me,  old  sire,  in  asking  me  of  noble  Hector. 
Him  have  I  full  oft  seen  with  mine  eyes  in  glorious  battle,  and 
when  at  the  ships  he  was  slaying  the  Argives  he  drave  thither, 
piercing  them  with  the  keen  bronze,  and  we  stood  still  and  mar- 
velled thereat,  for  Achilles  suffered  us  not  to  fight,  being  wroth 
against  Atreus'  son.  His  squire  am  I,  and  came  in  the  same 
M^ell-wrought  ship.  From  the  Myrmidons  I  come,  and  my 
father  is  Polyktor.  Wealthy  is  he,  and  an  old  man  even  as 
thou,  and  six  other  sons  hath  he,  and  I  am  his  seventh.  With 
the  others  I  cast  lots,  and  it  fell  to  me  to  fare  hither  with  the 
host.  And  now  am  I  come  from  the  ships  to  the  plain,  for  at 
lay-break  the  glancing-eyed  Achaians  will  set  the  battle  in  array 
around  the  town.  For  it  chafeth  them  to  be  sitting  here,  nor 
can  the  Achaian  lords  hold  in  their  fury  for  the  fray." 

And  the  old  man,  godlike  Priam,  answered  him,  saying: 
"If  verily  thou  art  a  squire  of  Achilles  Peleus'  son,  come  tell 
me  all  the  truth,  whether  still  my  son  is  by  the  ships,  or  whether 
ere  now  Achilles  hath  riven  him  limb  from  limb  and  cast  him 
to  the  dogs." 

Then  to  him  again  spake  the  Messenger  the  slayer  of  Argus : 
"Old  sire,  not  yet  have  dogs  or  birds  devoured  him,  but  there 
lieth  he  still  by  Achilles'  ship,  even  as  he  fell,  among  the  huts, 
and  the  twelfth  morn  now  hath  risen  upon  him,  nor  doth  his 
flesh  corrupt  at  all,  neither  worms  consume  it,  such  as  devour 
men  slain  in  war.  Truly  Achilles  draggeth  him  recklessly 
around  the  barrow  of  his  dear  comrade  so  oft  as  divine  day 
dawneth,  yet  marreth  he  him  not ;  thou  wouldst  marvel  if  thou 
couldst  go  see  thyself  how  dewy  fresh  he  lieth,  and  is  washed 
clean  of  blood,  nor  anywhere  defiled ;  and  all  his  wounds  where- 
with he  was  stricken  are  closed;  howbeit  many  plunged  their 
points  in  him.     So  careful  are  the  blessed  gods  of  thy  son. 


424  HOMER 

though  he  be  but  a  dead  corpse,  for  they  held  him  dear  at  heart." 
Thus  spake  he,  and  the  old  man  rejoiced,  and  answered  him, 
'aying :  "My  son,  it  is  verily  a  good  thing  to  give  due  offerings 
withal  to  the  Immortals,  for  never  did  my  child — if  that  child 
indeed  I  had — forget  in  our  halls  the  gods  who  inhabit  Olym- 
)us.  Therefore  have  they  remembered  this  for  him,  albeit  his 
portion  is  death.  But  come  now  take  from  me  this  goodly  gob- 
let, and  guard  me  myself  and  guide  me,  under  Heaven,  that  I 
may  come  unto  the  hut  of  Peleus'  son." 

Then  spake  unto  him  again  the  Messenger  the  slayer  of  Ar- 
gus :  "Thou  art  proving  me,  old  sire,  who  am  younger  than 
thou,  but  thou  wilt  not  prevail  upon  me,  in  that  thou  biddest  me 
take  gifts  from  thee  without  Achilles'  privity.  I  were  afraid 
and  shamed  at  heart  to  defraud  him,  lest  some  evil  come  to  pass 
on  me  hereafter.  But  as  thy  guide  I  would  go  even  unto  famous 
Argos,  accompanying  thee  courteously  in  swift  ship  or  on  foot. 
Not  from  scorn  of  thy  guide  would  any  assail  thee  then." 

Thus  spake  the  Helper,  and  leaping  on  the  chariot  behind 
the  horses  he  swiftly  took  lash  and  reins  into  his  hand,  and 
breathed  brave  spirit  into  horses  and  mules.  But  when  they 
were  come  to  the  towers  and  trench  of  the  ships,  there  were 
the  sentinels  just  busying  them  about  their  supper.  Then  the 
Messenger,  the  slayer  of  Argus,  shed  sleep  upon  them  all,  and 
straightway  opened  the  gates  and  thrust  back  the  bars,  and 
brought  within  Priam  and  the  splendid  gifts  upon  his  wain. 
And  they  came  to  the  lofty  hut  of  the  son  of  Peleus,  which  the 
Myrmidons  made  for  their  king  and  hewed  therefor  timber  of 
the  pine,  and  thatched  it  with  downy  thatching-rush  that  they 
mowed  in  the  meadows,  and  around  it  made  for  him  their  lord 
a  great  court  with  close-set  palisades ;  and  the  door  was  barred 
by  a  single  bolt  of  pine  that  three  Achaians  wont  to  drive  home, 
and  three  drew  back  that  mighty  bar — three  of  the  rest,  but 
Achilles  by  himself  would  drive  it  home.  Then  opened  the 
Helper  Hermes  the  door  for  the  old  man,  and  brought  in  the 
splendid  gifts  for  Peleus'  fleet-footed  son,  and  descended  from 
the  chariot  to  the  earth  and  spake  aloud :  "Old  sire,  I  that  have 
come  to  thee  am  an  immortal  god,  even  Hermes,  for  my  father 
sent  me  to  companion  thee  on  thy  way.  But  now  will  I  depart 
from  thee  nor  come  within  Achilles'  sight;  it  were  cause  of 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  425 

wrath  that  an  Immortal  god  should  thus  show  favour  openly 
unto  mortals.  But  thou  go  in  and  clasp  the  knees  of  Peleus' 
son  and  entreat  him  for  his  father's  sake  and  his  mother's  of 
the  lovely  hair  and  for  his  child's  sake  that  thou  mayest  move 
his  soul." 

Thus  Hermes  spake,  and  departed  unto  high  Olympus.  But 
Priam  leapt  from  the  car  to  the  earth,  and  left  Idaios  in  his 
place ;  he  stayed  to  mind  the  horses  and  mules ;  but  the  old  man 
made  straight  for  the  house  where  Achilles  dear  to  Zeus  was 
wont  to  sit.  And  therein  he  found  the  man  himself,  and  his 
comrades  sate  apart :  two  only,  the  hero  Automedon  and  Alki- 
mos,  of  the  stock  of  Ares,  were  busy  in  attendance;  and  he  was 
lately  ceased  from  meat,  even  from  eating  and  drinking:  and 
still  the  table  stood  beside  him.  But  they  were  unaware  of  great 
Priam  as  he  came  in,  and  so  stood  he  anigh  and  clasped  in  his 
hands  the  knees  of  Achilles,  and  kissed  his  hands,  terrible,  man- 
slaying,  that  slew  many  of  Priam's  sons.  And  as  when  a  griev- 
ous curse  Cometh  upon  a  man  who  in  his  own  country  hath  slain 
another  and  escapeth  to  a  land  of  strangers,  to  the  house  of 
some  rich  man,  and  wonder  possesseth  them  that  look  on  him — 
so  Achilles  wondered  when  he  saw  godlike  Priam,  and  the  rest 
wondered  likewise,  and  looked  upon  one  another.  Then  Priam 
spake  and  entreated  him,  saying:  "Bethink  thee,  O  Achilles 
like  to  gods,  of  thy  father  that  is  of  like  years  with  me,  on  the 
grievous  pathway  of  old  age.  Him  haply  are  the  dwellers 
round  about  entreating  evilly,  nor  is  there  any  to  ward  from  him 
ruin  and  bane.  Nevertheless  while  he  heareth  of  thee  as  yet 
alive  he  rejoiceth  in  his  heart,  and  hopeth  withal  day  after  day 
that  he  shall  see  his  dear  son  returning  from  Troy-land.  But  I, 
I  am  utterly  unblest,  since  I  begat  sons  the  best  men  in  wide 
Troy-land,  but  declare  unto  thee  that  none  of  them  is  left.  Fifty 
I  had,  when  the  sons  of  the  Achaians  came ;  nineteen  were  born 
to  me  of  one  mother,  and  concubines  bare  the  rest  within  my 
halls.  Now  of  the  more  part  had  impetuous  Ares  unstrung  the 
knees,  and  he  who  was  yet  left  and  guarded  city  and  men, 
him  slewest  thou  but  now  as  he  fought  for  his  country,  even 
Hector.  For  his  sake  come  I  unto  the  ships  of  the  Achaians 
that  I  may  win  him  back  from  thee,  and  I  bring  with  me  untold 
ransom.     Yea,  fear  thou  the  gods,  Achilles,  and  have  compas- 


426  HOMER 

sion  on  me,  even  me,  bethinking  thee  of  thy  father.  Lo,  I  am 
yet  more  piteous  than  he,  and  have  braved  what  none  other  man 
on  earth  hath  braved  before,  to  stretch  forth  my  hand  toward 
the  face  of  the  slayer  of  my  sons." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  stirred  within  Achilles  desire  to  make 
lament  for  his  father.  And  he  touched  the  old  man's  hand  and 
gently  moved  him  back.  And  as  they  both  bethought  them  of 
their  dead,  so  Priam  for  man-slaying  Hector  wept  sore  as  he 
was  fallen  before  Achilles'  feet,  and  Achilles  wept  for  his  own 
father,  and  now  again  for  Patroklos,  and  their  moan  went  up 
throughout  the  house.  But  when  noble  Achilles  had  satisfied 
him  with  lament,  and  the  desire  thereof  departed  from  his  heart 
and  limbs,  straightway  he  sprang  from  his  seat  and  raised  the 
old  man  by  his  hand,  pitying  his  hoary  head  and  hoary  beard, 
and  spake  unto  him  winged  words  and  said :  "Ah  hapless ! 
many  ill  things  verily  thou  hast  endured  in  thy  heart.  How 
durst  thou  come  alone  to  the  ships  of  the  Achaians  and  to  meet 
the  eyes  of  the  man  who  hath  slain  full  many  of  thy  brave  sons  ? 
of  iron  verily  is  thy  heart.  But  come  then  set  thee  on  a  seat, 
and  we  will  let  our  sorrows  lie  quiet  in  our  hearts,  for  all  our 
pain,  for  no  avail  cometh  of  chill  lament.  This  is  the  lot  the 
gods  have  spun  for  miserable  men,  that  they  should  live  in  pain ; 
yet  themselves  are  sorrowless.  For  two  urns  stand  upon  the 
floor  of  Zeus  filled  With  his  evil  gifts,  and  one  with  blessings. 
To  whomsoever  Zeus  whose  joy  is  in  the  lightning  dealeth 
a  mingled  lot,  that  man  chanceth  now  upon  ill  and  now  again  on 
good,  but  to  whom  he  giveth  but  of  the  bad  kind  him  he  bring- 
eth  to  scorn,  and  evil  famine  chaseth  him  over  the  goodly  earth, 
and  he  is  a  wanderer  honoured  of  neither  gods  nor  men.  Even 
thus  to  Peleus  gave  the  gods  splendid  gifts  from  his  birth,  for 
he  excelled  all  men  in  good  fortune  and  wealth,  and  was  king  of 
the  Myrmidons,  and  mortal  though  he  was  the  gods  gave  him  a 
goddess  to  be  his  bride.  Yet  even  on  him  God  brought  evil, 
seeing  that  there  arose  to  him  no  oflFspring  of  princely  sons  in 
his  halls,  save  that  he  begat  one  son  to  an  untimely  death. 
Neither  may  I  tend  him  as  he  groweth  old,  since  very  far  from 
my  country  I  am  dwelling  in  Troy-land,  to  vex  thee  and  thy 
children.  And  of  thee,  old  sire,  we  have  heard  how  of  old 
time  thou  wert  happy,  even  how  of  all  that  Lesbos,  seat  of 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  427 

Makar,  boundeth  to  the  north  thereof  and  Phrygia  farther  up 
and  the  vast  Hellespont — of  all  these  folk,  men  say,  thou  wert 
the  richest  in  wealth  and  in  sons,  but  after  that  the  Powers  of 
Heaven  brought  this  bane  on  thee,  ever  are  battles  and  man- 
slay  ings  around  thy  city.  Keep  courage,  and  lament  not  una- 
batingly  in  thy  heart.  For  nothing  wilt  thou  avail  by  grieving 
for  thy  son,  neither  shalt  thou  bring  him  back  to  life  or  ever 
some  new  evil  come  upon  thee." 

Then  made  answer  unto  him  the  old  man,  godlike  Priam : 
"Bid  me  not  to  a  seat,  O  fosterling  of  Zeus,  so  long  as  Hector 
lieth  uncared  for  at  the  huts,  but  straightway  give  him  back  that 
I  may  behold  him  with  mine  eyes;  and  accept  thou  the  great 
ransom  that  we  bring.  So  mayest  thou  have  pleasure  thereof, 
and  come  unto  thy  native  land,  since  thou  hast  spared  me  from 
the  first." 

Then  fleet-footed  Achilles  looked  sternly  upon  him  and  said : 
"No  longer  chafe  me,  old  sire;  of  myself  am  I  minded  to  give 
Hector  back  to  thee,  for  there  came  to  me  a  messenger  from 
Zeus,  even  my  mother  who  bare  me,  daughter  of  the  Ancient 
One  of  the  Sea.  And  I  know,  O  Priam,  in  my  mind,  nor  am 
unaware  that  some  god  it  is  that  hath  guided  thee  to  the  swift 
ships  of  the  Achaians.  For  no  mortal  man,  even  though  in 
prime  of  youth,  would  dare  to  come  among  the  host,  for  neither 
could  he  escape  the  watch,  nor  easily  thrust  back  the  bolt  of  our 
doors.  Therefore  now  stir  my  heart  no  more  amid  my  troubles, 
lest  I  leave  not  even  thee  in  peace,  old  sire,  within  my  hut,  albeit 
thou  art  my  suppliant,  and  lest  I  transgress  the  commandment 
of  Zeus." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  old  man  feared,  and  obeyed  his 
word.  And  the  son  of  Peleus  leapt  like  a  lion  through  the  door 
of  the  house,  not  alone,  for  with  him  went  two  squires,  the  hero 
Automedon  and  Alkimos,  they  whom  above  all  his  comrades 
Achilles  honoured,  save  only  Patroklos  that  was  dead.  They 
then  loosed  from  under  the  yoke  the  horses  and  mules,  and  led 
in  the  old  man's  crier-herald  and  set  him  on  a  chair,  and  from 
the  wain  of  goodly  felloes  they  took  the  countless  ransom  set  on 
Hector's  head.  But  they  left  two  robes  and  a  well-spim  doub- 
let, that  Achilles  might  wrap  the  dead  therein  when  he  gave  \um 
to  be  carried  home.     And  he  called  forth  handmaids  and  bade 


428  HOMER 

them  wash  and  anoint  him  when  they  had  borne  him  apart,  so 
that  Priam  should  not  look  upon  his  son,  lest  he  should  not  re- 
frain the  wrath  at  his  sorrowing  heart  when  he  should  look 
upon  his  son,  and  lest  Achilles'  heart  be  vexed  thereat  and  he 
slay  him  and  transgress  the  commandment  of  Zeus.  So  when 
the  handmaids  had  washed  the  body  and  anointed  it  with  oil, 
and  had  thrown  over  it  a  fair  robe  and  a  doublet,  then  Achilles 
himself  lifted  it  and  laid  it  on  a  bier,  and  his  comrades  with  him 
lifted  it  onto  the  polished  waggon.  Then  he  groaned  aloud  and 
called  on  his  dear  comrade  by  his  name:  "Patroklos,  be  not 
vexed  with  me  if  thou  hear  even  in  the  house  of  Hades  that  I 
have  given  back  noble  Hector  unto  his  dear  father,  for  not 
unworthy  is  the  ransom  he  hath  given  me,  whereof  I  will  deal 
to  thee  again  thy  rightful  share." 

Thus  spake  noble  Achilles,  and  went  back  into  the  hut,  and 
sate  him  down  on  the  cunningly-wrought  couch  whence  he  had 
arisen  by  the  opposite  wall,  and  spake  a  word  to  Priam :  "Thy 
son,  old  sire,  is  given  back  as  thou  wouldest  and  lieth  on  a  bier, 
and  with  the  break  of  day  thou  shalt  see  him  thyself  as  thou 
carriest  him.  But  now  bethink  we  us  of  supper.  For  even 
faired-haired  Niobe  bethought  her  of  meat,  she  whose  twelve 
children  perished  in  her  halls,  six  daughters  and  six  lusty  sons. 
The  sons  Apollo,  in  his  anger  against  Niobe,  slew  with  arrows 
from  his  silver  bow,  'and  the  daughters  archer  Artemis,  for  that 
Niobe  matched  herself  against  fair-cheeked  Leto,  saying  that 
the  goddess  bare  but  twain  but  herself  many  children :  so  they 
though  they  were  but  twain  destroyed  the  others  all.  Nine 
days  they  lay  in  their  blood,  nor  was  there  any  to  bury  them, 
for  Kronion  turned  the  folk  to  stones.  Yet  on  the  tenth  day 
the  gods  of  heaven  buried  them,  and  she  then  bethought  her  of 
meat,  when  she  was  wearied  out  with  weeping  tears.  And 
somewhere  now  among  the  cliffs,  on  the  lonely  mountains,  even 
on  Sipylos,  where  thy  say  are  the  couching-places  of  nymphs 
that  dance  around  Acheloos,  there  she,  albeit  a  stone,  broodeth 
still  over  her  troubles  from  the  gods.  But  come  let  us  too, 
noble  father,  take  thought  of  meat,  and  afterward  thou  shalt 
mourn  over  thy  dear  son  as  thou  carriest  him  to  Ilios ;  and  many 
tears  shall  be  his  due. ' 

Thus  spake  fleet  Achilles,  and  sprang  up,  and  slew  a  pure 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  429 

white  sheep,  and  his  comrades  skinned  and  made  it  ready  in 
seemly  fashion,  and  divided  it  cunningly  and  pierced  it  with 
spits,  and  roasted  it  carefully  and  drew  all  off.  And  Autome- 
don  took  bread  and  served  it  on  a  table  in  fair  baskets, 
while  Achilles  dealt  out  the  flesh.  And  they  stretched  forth 
their  hands  to  the  good  cheer  lying  ready  before  them.  But 
when  they  had  put  off  the  desire  of  meat  and  drink,  then 
Priam  son  of  Dardanos  marvelled  at  Achilles  to  see  how 
great  he  was  and  how  goodly,  for  he  was  like  a  god  to  look 
upon.  And  Achilles  marvelled  at  Priam  son  of  Dardanos, 
beholding  his  noble  aspect  and  hearkening  to  his  words.  But 
when  they  had  gazed  their  fill  upon  one  other,  then  first  spake 
the  old  man,  godlike  Priam,  to  Achilles:  "Now  presently 
give  me  whereon  to  lie,  fosterling  of  Zeus,  that  of  sweet  sleep 
also  we  may  now  take  our  fill  at  rest:  for  never  yet  have 
mine  eyes  closed  beneath  their  lids  since  at  thy  hands  my 
son  lost  his  life,  but  I  continually  mourn  and  brood  over 
countless  griefs,  grovelling  in  the  courtyard-close  amid  the 
mire.  Now  at  last  have  I  tasted  bread  and  poured  bright 
wine  down  my  throat,  but  till  now  I  had  tasted  nought." 

He  said,  and  Achilles  ba,de  his  comrades  and  handmaids 
to  set  a  bedstead  beneath  the  portico,  and  to  cast  thereon  fair 
shining  rugs  and  spread  coverlets  above  and  thereon  to  lay 
thick  mantles  to  be  a  clothing  over  all.  And  the  maids  went 
forth  from  the  inner  hall  with  torches  in  their  hands,  and 
quickly  spread  two  beds  in  haste.  Then  with  bitter  mean- 
ing [in  his  reference  to  Agamemnon]  said  fleet-footed  Achilles 
unto  Priam:  "Lie  thou  without,  dear  sire,  lest  there  come 
hither  one  of  the  counsellors  of  the  Achaians,  such  as  ever 
take  counsel  with  me  by  my  side,  as  custom  is.  If  any  of  such 
should  behold  thee  through  the  swift  black  night,  forthwith 
he  might  haply  tell  it  to  Agamemnon  shepherd  of  the  host,  and 
thus  would  there  be  delay  in  giving  back  the  dead.  But  come 
say  this  to  me  and  tell  it  true,  how  many  days'  space  thou  art 
fain  to  make  funeral  for  noble  Hector,  so  that  for  so  long  I 
may  myself  abide  and  may  keep  back  the  host." 

And  the  old  man,  godlike  Priam,  answered  him  saying: 
"If  thou  art  verily  willing  that  I  accomplish  noble  Hector's 
funeral,  by  doing  as  thou  sayest,  O  Achilles,  thou  wilt  do  me 


430  HOMER 

grace.  For  thou  knowest  how  we  are  pent  within  the  city, 
and  wood  from  the  mountain  is  far  to  fetch,  and  the  Trojans 
are  much  in  fear.  Nine  days  will  we  make  moan  for  him  in 
our  halls,  and  on  the  tenth  we  will  hold  funeral  and  the 
folk  shall  feast,  and  on  the  eleventh  we  will  make  a  barrow 
over  him,  and  on  the  twelfth  we  will  do  battle  if  need  be." 

Then  again  spake  the  fleet  noble  Achilles  unto  him  say- 
ing: "All  this,  O  ancient  Priam,  shall  be  as  thou  biddest : 
for  I  will  hold  back  the  battle  even  so  long  a  time  as  thou 
tellest  me." 

Thus  speaking  he  clasped  the  old  man's  right  hand  at  the 
wrist,  lest  he  should  be  anywise  afraid  at  heart.  So  they  in 
the  forepart  of  the  house  laid  them  down,  Priam  and  the 
herald,  with  wise  thoughts  at  their  hearts,  but  Achilles  slept 
in  a  recess  of  the  firm-wrought  hut,  and  beside  him  lay  fair- 
cheeked  Briseis. 

Now  all  other  gods  and  warriors  lords  of  chariots  slum- 
bered all  night,  by  soft  sleep  overcome.  But  not  on  the 
Helper  Hermes  did  sleep  take  hold  as  he  sought  within  his 
heart  how  he  should  guide  forth  king  Priam  from  the  ships 
unespied  of  the  trusty  sentinels.  And  he  stood  above  his 
head  and  spake  a  word  to  him:  "Old  sire,  no  thought  then 
hast  thou  of  any  evil,  seeing  thou  yet  sleepest  among  men 
that  are  thine  en^rnies,  for  that  Achilles  spared  thee.  Truly 
now  hast  thou  won  back  thy  dear  son,  and  at  great  price. 
But  for  thy  life  will  thy  sons  thou  hast  left  behind  be  offer- 
ing threefold  ransom,  if  but  Agamemnon  Atreus'  son  be  aware 
of  thee,  and  aware  be  all  the  Achaians." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  the  old  man  feared,  and  roused  the 
herald.  And  Hermes  yoked  the  horses  and  mules  for  them, 
and  himself  drave  them  lightly  through  the  camp,  and  none 
was  aware  of  them. 

But  when  they  came  to  the  ford  of  the  fair-flowing  river, 
even  eddying  Xanthos,  begotten  of  immortal  Zeus,  then  Her- 
mes departed  up  to  high  Olympus,  and  Morning  of  the 
saffron  robe  spread  over  all  the  earth.  And  they  with  wail 
and  moan  drave  the  horses  to  the  city,  and  the  mules  drew 
the  dead.  Nor  marked  them  any  man  or  fair-girdled  woman 
until  Kassandra,  peer  of  golden  Aphrodite,  having  gone  up 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  431 

upon  Pergamos,  was  aware  of  her  clear  father  as  he  stood  in 
the  car,  and  the  herald  that  was  crier  to  the  town.  Then 
beheld  she  him  that  lay  upon  the  bier  behind  the  mules,  and 
thereat  she  wailed  and  cried  aloud  throughout  all  the  town: 
"O  men  and  women  of  Troy,  come  ye  hither  and  look  upon 
Hector,  if  ever  while  he  was  alive  ye  rejoiced  when  he  came 
back  from  battle,  since  great  joy  was  he  to  the  city  and  all 
the  folk." 

Thus  spake  she,  nor  was  man  or  woman  left  within  the 
city,  for  upon  all  came  unendurable  grief.  And  near  the 
gates  they  met  Priam  bringing  home  the  dead.  First  bewailed 
him  his  dear  wife  and  lady  mother,  as  they  cast  them  on  the 
fair-wheeled  wain  and  touched  his  head ;  and  around  them 
stood  the  throng  and  wept.  So  all  day  long  unto  the  setting 
of  the  sun  they  had  lamented  Hector  in  tears  without  the 
gate,  had  not  the  old  man  spoken  from  the  car  among  the 
folk:  "Give  me  place  for  the  mules  to  pass  through:  here- 
after ye  shall  have  your  fill  of  wailing,  when  I  have  brought 
him  unto  his  home." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  parted  asunder  and  gave  place 
to  the  wain.  And  the  others  when  they  had  brought  him  to 
the  famous  house,  laid  him  on  a  fretted  bed.  and  set  beside 
him  minstrels  leaders  of  the  dirge,  who  wailed  a  mournful 
lay,  while  the  women  made  moan  with  them.  And  among 
the  women  white-armed  Andromache  led  the  lamentation, 
while  in  her  hands  she  held  the  head  of  Hector  slayer  of 
men :  "Husband,  thou  art  gone  young  from  life,  and  leavest 
me  a  widow  in  thy  halls.  And  the  child  is  yet  but  a  little 
one,  child  of  ill-fated  parents,  thee  and  me ;  nor  methinks 
shall  he  grow  up  to  manhood,  for  ere  then  shall  this  city  be 
utterly  destroyed.  For  thou  art  verily  perished  who  didst 
watch  over  it,  who  guardedst  it  and  keptest  safe  its  noble 
wives  and  infant  little  ones.  These  soon  shall  be  voyaging  in 
the  hollow  ships,  yea  and  I  too  with  them,  and  thou,  my 
child,  shalt  either  go  with  me  unto  a  place  where  thou  shalt 
toil  at  unseemly  tasks,  labouring  before  the  face  of  some 
harsh  lord,  or  else  some  Achaian  will  take  thee  by  the  arm 
and  hurl  thee  from  the  battlement,  a  grievous  death,  for  that 
he  is  wroth  because  Hector  slew  his  brother  or  father  or  son, 


432  HOMER 

since  full  many  of  the  Achaians  at  Hector's  hands  have  bitten 
the  firm  earth.  For  no  light  hand  had  thy  father  in  the 
grievous  fray.  Therefore  the  folk  lament  him  throughout 
the  city,  and  woe  unspeakable  and  mourning  hast  thou  left 
to  thy  parents,  Hector,  but  with  me  chiefliest  shall  grievous 
pain  abide.  For  neither  didst  thou  stretch  thy  hands  to  me 
from  a  bed  in  thy  death,  neither  didst  speak  to  me  some 
memorable  word  that  I  might  have  thought  on  evermore  as 
my  tears  fall  night  and  day." 

Thus  spake  she  wailing,  and  the  women  joined  their  moan. 
And  among  them  Hekabe  again  led  the  loud  lament : 
"Hector,  of  all  my  children  far  dearest  to  my  heart,  verily 
while  thou  wert  alive  dear  wert  thou  to  the  gods,  and  even 
in  thy  doom  of  death  have  they  had  care  for  thee.  For 
other  sons  of  mine  whom  he  took  captive  would  fleet  Achilles 
sell  beyond  the  unvintaged  sea  unto  Samos  and  Imbros  and 
smoking  Lemnos  [a  volcanic  island],  but  when  with  keen- 
edged  bronze  he  had  bereft  thee  of  thy  life  he  was  fain  to 
drag  thee  oft  around  the  tomb  of  his  comrade,  even  Patro- 
klos  whom  thou  slewest,  yet  might  he  not  raise  him  up  thereby. 
But  now  all  dewy  and  fresh  thou  liest  in  our  halls,  like  one  on 
whom  Apollo,  Iprd  of  the  silver  bow,  hath  descended  and  slain 
him  with  his  gentle  darts." 

Thus  spake  she  wailing,  and  stirred  unending  moan.  Then 
thirdly  Helen  led  their  sore  lament:  "Hector,  of  all  my 
brethren  of  Troy  far  dearest  to  my  heart !  Truly  my  lord  is 
godlike  Alexandros  who  brought  me  to  Troy-land — would  I 
had  died  ere  then.  For  this  is  now  the  twentieth  year  since  I 
went  thence  and  am  gone  from  my  own  native  land,  but 
never  yet  heard  I  evil  or  despiteful  word  from  thee:  nay,  if 
any  other  haply  upbraided  me  in  the  palace-halls,  whether 
brother  or  sister  of  thine  or  brother's  fair-robed  wife,  or  thy 
mother — but  thy  father  is  ever  kind  to  me  as  he  were  my  own 
— then  wouldst  thou  soothe  such  with  words  and  refrain  them, 
by  the  gentleness  of  thy  spirit  and  by  thy  gentle  words.  There- 
fore bewail  I  thee  with  pain  at  heart,  and  my  hapless  self  with 
thee,  for  no  more  is  any  left  in  wide  Troy-land  to  be  my 
friend  and  kind  to  me,  but  all  men  shudder  at  me." 

JThus  spake  she  wailing,  and  therewith  the  great  multitude 


THE  ILIAD— BOOK  XXIV  433 

of  the  people  groaned.  But  the  old  man  Priam  spake  a  word 
among  the  folk:  "Bring  wood,  men  of  Troy,  unto  the  city, 
and  be  not  anywise  afraid  at  heart  of  a  crafty  ambush  of  the 
Achaians ;  for  this  message  Achilles  gave  me  when  he  sent 
me  from  the  black  ships,  that  they  should  do  us  no  hurt 
until  the  twelfth  morn  arise." 

Thus  spake  he,  and  they  yoked  oxen  and  mules  to  wains, 
and  quickly  then  they  flocked  before  the  city.  So  nine  days 
they  gathered  great  store  of  wood.  But  when  the  tenth  morn 
rose  with  light  for  men,  then  bare  they  forth  brave  Hector, 
weeping  tears,  and  on  a  lofty  pyre  they  laid  the  dead  man, 
and  thereon  cast  fire. 

But  when  the  daughter  of  Dawn,  rosy-fingered  Morning, 
shone  forth,  then  gathered  the  folk  around  glorious  Hector's 
pyre.  First  quenched  they  with  bright  wine  all  the  burn- 
ing, so  far  as  the  fire's  strength  went,  and  then  his  brethren 
and  comrades  gathered  his  white  bones  lamenting,  and  big 
tears  flowed  down  their  cheeks.  And  the  bones  they  took  and 
laid  in  a  golden  urn,  shrouding  them  in  soft  purple  robes, 
and  straightway  laid  the  urn  in  a  hollow  grave  and  piled 
thereon  great  close-set  stones,  and  heaped  with  speed  a  barrow, 
while  watchers  were  set  everywhere  around,  lest  the  well- 
greaved  Achaians  should  make  onset  before  the  time.  And 
when  they  had  heaped  the  barrow  they  went  back,  and  gathered 
them  together  and  feasted  right  well  in  noble  feast  at  the 
palace  of  Priam,  Zeus-fostered  king. 

Thus  held  they  funeral  for  Hector  tamer  of  horses. 


r^"??!; 


